Criminal Justiceat Fort Hays State University
Graduates earn $42,428/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Criminal Justice average. Base-case 10-year earnings $493K; scenarios range from $459K to $493K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Fort Hays State University
First-year earnings of $42,428 at Fort Hays State University come in 10% above the national median of $38,544 for Criminal Justice programs.
The 21.9x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $23,362 debt-to-$42,428 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
A #56 ranking out of 629 Criminal Justice programs nationally puts Fort Hays State University in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.
Earnings growth is modest: $42,428 to $48,305 over five years (14% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Fort Hays State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Criminal Justice
How Fort Hays State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Fort Hays State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Fort Hays 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 →Frequently asked about Criminal Justice at Fort Hays State University
How does Fort Hays State University's Criminal Justice program score?
This program scores 62/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice graduates.