Criminal Justice and Corrections at Harding University

Searcy, AR · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
49 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
49
Optimistic
49
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,818/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 5.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #378 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs

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 $524K $521K $482K
Earnings Multiple 5.3x 5.2x 4.8x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 49 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$99,552
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$82,316
17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,955
7.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,330
40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $38,818/yr, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from Harding University land near the $38,544 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 5.2x 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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,955 represents roughly 8 months of the $38,818 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #378 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs, Harding University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $38,818 to $54,330 over five years — a 40% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Harding University

With 100% of applicants admitted, Harding University prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 3,323 students in Searcy, AR.

See all programs and financial aid at Harding 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at Harding University?
A score of 49/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Criminal Justice and Corrections. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →