Criminal Justiceat Lamar University
Graduates earn $43,707/yr in their first year — about 13.0% above the national Criminal Justice average. Base-case 10-year earnings $533K; scenarios range from $492K to $536K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Lamar University
Graduates earn $43,707/yr, edging above the $38,544 national average for Criminal Justice — 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 programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice'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 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.
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 Lamar 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 Lamar University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Lamar University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Lamar 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 Lamar University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice 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 field.