Criminology at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
41 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
41
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,191/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (122,700 openings/yr)
ROI 12.5x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #62 of 111 Criminology programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $492K $492K $457K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.5x 12.5x 11.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.6x 4.6x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 30% 22%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 41 29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,260
Out-of-state: $106,320 (4.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$62,004
-58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,055
8.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,871
38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $33,191 track close to the $36,749 national median for Criminology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 12.5x 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 — 50% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,055 debt-to-$33,191 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #62 out of 111 programs, Mississippi State University's financial outcomes for Criminology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $33,191 to $45,871 shows 38% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University has a 76% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 18,092 in Mississippi State, MS.

See all programs and financial aid at Mississippi State University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Psychologists, all other $117,580/yr
Sociologists $101,690/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Criminology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Mississippi State 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

How does Mississippi State University's Criminology program score?
This program scores 41/100 — on the lower end for Criminology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Criminology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Criminology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →