Criminal Justice at Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections
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)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminal Justice 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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,000
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,407
42% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
Criminal Justice 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 program score?
This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice graduates.
Why does Colorado Mesa University rank so high for Criminal Justice?
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 →