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Criminal Justice and Corrections at Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Natchitoches, LA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,559/yr (-21% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

ROI 14.1x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #386 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$502K	$501K	$466K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.2x	14.1x	13.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.4x	6.4x	5.9x
Probability of Field Employment	34%	32%	26%
DegreeOutlook Score	50	49	40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$35,456

Out-of-state: $78,608 (6.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,236

-56% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

10.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$47,007

54% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $30,559 per year, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn below the $38,544 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Criminal Justice and Corrections programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice and Corrections'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.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 11 months of the $30,559 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #386 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs, Northwestern State University of Louisiana falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $47,007 show a 54% jump from the $30,559 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Northwestern State University of Louisiana

With 94% of applicants admitted, Northwestern State University of Louisiana prioritizes broad access, serving 5,840 students in Natchitoches, LA.

See all programs and financial aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana →

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

View all 20 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice and Corrections at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northwestern State University of Louisiana

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at Northwestern State University of Louisiana?

A score of 49/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Criminal Justice and Corrections. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Can you still earn well with Criminal Justice and Corrections from Northwestern State University of Louisiana?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →