Criminal Justice at Kean University
Union, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,408/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk
Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI
10.1x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminal Justice graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $546K | $542K | $500K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 10.2x | 10.1x | 9.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.5x | 6.4x | 5.9x |
| 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)
$53,704
Out-of-state: $84,304 (6.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,213
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,246
50% growth from Year 1
About Kean University
Kean University accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 10,842 students in Union, NJ. With 46% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.
See all programs and financial aid at Kean 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
Compare & Explore
Criminal Justice at Other Schools
Other Majors at Kean 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 at Kean University?
A score of 57/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Criminal Justice field.
What makes Kean University's Criminal Justice program stand out?
Ranked #160 of 629 programs nationally, Kean 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 →