Program Analysis
At $40,719 per year, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from Northeastern Illinois University earn slightly above the $38,544 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
With a 10.9x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 9% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Criminal Justice and Corrections career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
The median debt load of $11,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Northeastern Illinois University ranks #104 among 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
A 45% earnings increase from $40,719 to $59,188 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.