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Public Safety & Security · Criminal Justice Rank #108 of 629

Criminal Justiceat Ferris State University

Graduates earn $44,897/yr in their first year — about 16.0% above the national Criminal Justice average. Base-case 10-year earnings $532K; scenarios range from $491K to $536K depending on AI disruption.

Big Rapids, MI Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
59 SOLID
60
Optimistic
49
Pessimistic
Earnings
$44,897
1-year post-graduation
ROI
9.8x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$532K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
40% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Ferris State University

At $44,897 per year, Criminal Justice graduates from Ferris State University earn slightly above the $38,544 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

At 9.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

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

The median debt load of $18,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #108 out of 629 programs, Ferris State University's Criminal Justice program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,897 to $58,694 shows 31% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$491K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score49/100
Earnings Multiple9.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$532K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple9.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$536K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple9.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Ferris State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Criminal Justice graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
First-line supervisors of police and detectives
+2.9% 10-yr growth · 10,900 openings/yr
$105,980/yr
Moderate
3
Detectives and criminal investigators
-0.7% 10-yr growth · 7,800 openings/yr
$93,580/yr
High
4
Financial examiners
+18.5% 10-yr growth · 5,700 openings/yr
$90,400/yr
High
5
Emergency management directors
+3.0% 10-yr growth · 1,000 openings/yr
$86,130/yr
Moderate
6
Transit and railroad police
+3.0% 10-yr growth · 200 openings/yr
$82,320/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Criminal Justice

How Ferris State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Charter Oak State College
CT · Public
67
DW Score
$69K
1-yr earn
19.3x
ROI
Herzing University-Birmingham
AL · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Herzing University-Atlanta
GA · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Herzing University-Minneapolis
MN · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Herzing University-Akron
OH · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Also at Ferris State University

Other top programs at Ferris State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Ferris State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Criminal Justice offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Criminal Justice trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Criminal Justice at Ferris State University

How does Ferris State University's Criminal Justice program score?

This program scores 59/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice graduates.

Why does Ferris State University rank so high for Criminal Justice?

The #108 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.