Criminal Justiceat Minnesota State University Moorhead
Graduates earn $44,037/yr in their first year — about 14.0% above the national Criminal Justice average. Base-case 10-year earnings $509K; scenarios range from $472K to $510K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Minnesota State University Moorhead
At $44,037 per year, Criminal Justice graduates from Minnesota State University Moorhead earn slightly above the $38,544 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.3x 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 7% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $17,792 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #111 of 629 nationally, this is a top-5% Criminal Justice program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $52,769 are relatively flat compared to the $44,037 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.
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 Moorhead'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 Moorhead stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Minnesota State University Moorhead
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Minnesota State University Moorhead, 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 Moorhead
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Minnesota State University Moorhead?
A score of 59/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Criminal Justice field.
What makes Minnesota State University Moorhead's Criminal Justice program stand out?
Ranked #111 of 629 programs nationally, Minnesota State University Moorhead lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.