Criminal Justice and Corrections at Lamar University

Beaumont, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
64 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
65
Optimistic
64
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,707/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 15.3x earnings multiple (7.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #38 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs Top 10%

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 $536K $533K $492K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.4x 15.3x 14.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.3x 7.2x 6.7x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 65 64 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$34,760
Out-of-state: $73,928 (7.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$45,716
-32% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,550
34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $43,707/yr, edging above the $38,544 national average for Criminal Justice and Corrections — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Criminal Justice and Corrections programs nationally.

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 $25,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $43,707 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #38 of 629 programs, Lamar University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $43,707 to $58,550 over five years — a 34% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Lamar University

Lamar University has a 86% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 7,945 students in Beaumont, TX. With 44% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Lamar 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 Lamar University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at Lamar University?
A score of 64/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Criminal Justice and Corrections field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →