Criminal Justiceat Governors State University
Graduates earn $42,456/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Criminal Justice average. Base-case 10-year earnings $536K; scenarios range from $494K to $539K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Governors State University
Governors State University's Criminal Justice graduates start at $42,456/yr — above the $38,544 national average, though not by a wide margin.
The 11.8x 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 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,000 in median debt clears quickly against $42,456 in annual earnings.
Ranked #68 out of 629 programs, Governors State University's Criminal Justice program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $42,456 to $58,832 shows 39% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
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 Governors 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 Governors State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Governors State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Governors 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 Governors State University
How does Governors State University's Criminal Justice program score?
This program scores 61/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice graduates.
Why does Governors State University rank so high for Criminal Justice?
The #68 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.