Criminal Justiceat Northeastern University
Graduates earn $51,363/yr in their first year — about 33.0% above the national Criminal Justice average. Base-case 10-year earnings $595K; scenarios range from $542K to $603K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Northeastern University
Northeastern's highly selective Criminal Justice program, set within a major metropolitan area like Boston, uniquely positions its graduates. The university's renowned co-op program is a significant differentiator, allowing you to build substantial professional experience with federal, state, and local agencies, or even private sector compliance and security firms, before you even graduate. This hands-on foundation is critical for quickly advancing into leadership roles like supervisors or specialized investigative positions, rather than just entry-level roles. The curriculum likely emphasizes analytical and critical thinking skills, preparing you for diverse paths beyond traditional policing, including financial oversight or management within various organizations. To maximize your potential, strategically leverage your co-op experiences to build a specialized skillset, perhaps in areas like cybercrime or data analysis, which are increasingly valuable in the field.
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 Northeastern 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 Northeastern University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Northeastern University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Northeastern 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 Northeastern University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Northeastern University?
A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Criminal Justice field.