Criminal Justiceat Minnesota State University-Mankato
Graduates earn $49,019/yr in their first year — about 27.0% above the national Criminal Justice average. Base-case 10-year earnings $540K; scenarios range from $498K to $544K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Minnesota State University-Mankato
First-year earnings of $49,019 put Minnesota State University-Mankato's Criminal Justice program 27% above the national median of $38,544 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
The 14.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 36% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $49,019 far exceeding the $21,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #12 out of 629 programs, Minnesota State University-Mankato's Criminal Justice program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $49,019 to $61,661 shows 26% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary 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 Minnesota State University-Mankato'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 Minnesota State University-Mankato stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Minnesota State University-Mankato
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Minnesota State University-Mankato, 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 Minnesota State University-Mankato
How does Minnesota State University-Mankato's Criminal Justice program score?
This program scores 67/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice graduates.
Why does Minnesota State University-Mankato rank so high for Criminal Justice?
The #12 ranking out of 629 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.