Criminal Justice at East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
45
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings
$30,097/yr (-22% vs median)
AI Risk
Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI
12.2x earnings multiple (8.8x 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 | $487K | $487K | $455K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.2x | 12.2x | 11.4x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 8.8x | 8.8x | 8.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 34% | 32% | 26% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 46 | 45 | 37 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,800
Out-of-state: $55,160 (8.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
9.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,784
45% growth from Year 1
About East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University accepts 87% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 9,807 students in Johnson City, TN.
See all programs and financial aid at East Tennessee State 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 East Tennessee State University
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a 45/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at East Tennessee State University?
At 45/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Criminal Justice programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Is East Tennessee State University a good choice for Criminal Justice despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If East Tennessee State University's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →