Criminal Justice and Corrections at Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
58
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,204/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 13.4x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #127 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $525K $522K $483K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.5x 13.4x 12.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.4x 5.4x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 58 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,848
Out-of-state: $97,248 (5.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$61,324
-58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,000
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,407
42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $38,204/yr, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from Colorado Mesa University land near the $38,544 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 13.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 36% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,000 debt-to-$38,204 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #127 out of 629 programs, Colorado Mesa University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $38,204 to $54,407 shows 42% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Colorado Mesa University

With 81% of applicants admitted, Colorado Mesa University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 7,604 in Grand Junction, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado Mesa University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
First-line supervisors of police and detectives $105,980/yr
Detectives and criminal investigators $93,580/yr
View all 20 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice and Corrections at Other Schools

Other Majors at Colorado Mesa University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Colorado Mesa University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program score?
This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.
Why does Colorado Mesa University rank so high for Criminal Justice and Corrections?
The #127 ranking out of 629 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →