Criminal Justiceat George Washington University
Graduates earn $51,256/yr in their first year — about 33.0% above the national Criminal Justice average. Base-case 10-year earnings $586K; scenarios range from $535K to $594K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at George Washington University
Your strong earnings potential in Criminal Justice and Corrections at GWU is heavily influenced by its prime location. Washington D.C. offers an unparalleled ecosystem for this field, going far beyond local law enforcement. You'll find yourself at the doorstep of numerous federal agencies—think the Department of Justice, FBI, DEA, and various intelligence organizations—as well as national security firms, policy think tanks, and advocacy groups.
GWU's strong reputation within this specific D.C. landscape, coupled with its robust alumni network, likely creates direct pipelines into these more specialized and higher-paying roles. Your career path here often extends beyond traditional policing into areas like policy analysis, intelligence gathering, financial crime investigation, and regulatory compliance, where analytical skills are highly valued. To maximize this advantage, actively pursue internships and networking opportunities with federal and policy-focused organizations from your first year.
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 George Washington 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 George Washington University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at George Washington University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at George Washington 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 George Washington University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at George Washington University?
This program scores 51/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Criminal Justice programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.