Criminal Justice and Corrections at Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
57 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,857/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 9.4x earnings multiple (6.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #155 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $553K $548K $504K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.4x 9.4x 8.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.6x 6.6x 6.1x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 57 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$58,512
Out-of-state: $83,280 (6.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$68,384
-17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,671
52% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $39,857/yr, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from Grand Valley State University land near the $38,544 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice and Corrections's typical career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $39,857 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #155 of 629 nationally, this is a top-5% Criminal Justice and Corrections program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $60,671 show a 52% jump from the $39,857 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Grand Valley State University

With 95% of applicants admitted, Grand Valley State University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 19,073 in Allendale, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Grand Valley 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
View all 20 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice and Corrections at Other Schools

Other Majors at Grand Valley 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 is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at Grand Valley State University?
A score of 57/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Criminal Justice and Corrections field.
What makes Grand Valley State University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program stand out?
Ranked #155 of 629 programs nationally, Grand Valley State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →