Criminal Justice at Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
54
Optimistic
53
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,724/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk
Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI
11.8x earnings multiple (6.0x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminal Justice graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $515K | $513K | $476K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 11.8x | 11.8x | 10.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.0x | 6.0x | 5.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 34% | 32% | 26% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 54 | 53 | 43 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,584
Out-of-state: $85,920 (6.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,812
7.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,498
44% growth from Year 1
About Northern Kentucky University
A 96% acceptance rate means Northern Kentucky University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 8,065 in Highland Heights, KY. The average net cost of $28,672 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.
See all programs and financial aid at Northern Kentucky University →Top Career Paths
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
First-line supervisors of police and detectives
$105,980/yr
Detectives and criminal investigators
$93,580/yr
Compare & Explore
Criminal Justice at Other Schools
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Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Northern Kentucky University's Criminal Justice program score?
This program scores 53/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice graduates.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →