Home › Ohio State University-Main Campus › Criminology

Criminology at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree
49 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
49
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,396/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (122,700 openings/yr)
ROI 10.4x earnings multiple (3.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #26 of 111 Criminology programs Top 25%

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 $538K $533K $487K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.5x 10.4x 9.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.5x 3.5x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 30% 22%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 49 35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,436
Out-of-state: $153,460 (3.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,168
-42% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
5.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,464
46% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Ohio State University-Main Campus's Criminology graduates start at $39,396/yr — above the $36,749 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 10.4x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,500 in median debt clears quickly against $39,396 in annual earnings.

Ranked #26 out of 111 programs, Ohio State University-Main Campus's Criminology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $39,396 to $57,464 shows 46% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Ohio State University-Main Campus

Ohio State University-Main Campus's 51% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving a student body of 44,617 in Columbus, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at Ohio State University-Main Campus →

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

Compare this program → View all 111 schools offering Criminology →

Criminology at Other Schools

University of Wisconsin-Stout ($49,004) Assumption University ($48,600) University of Southern Maine ($47,726) Saint Anselm College ($46,814) Lakeland University ($45,276) University of Wisconsin-River Falls ($45,113) Barry University ($44,015) University of Northern Iowa ($43,914)

Other Majors at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Computer Engineering ($83,342) Applied Mathematics ($82,523) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($82,448) Industrial Engineering ($80,876) Mechanical Engineering ($79,359) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,872) Engineering, Other ($78,734) Chemical Engineering ($77,455)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Criminology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Ohio State University-Main Campus's Criminology program score?
This program scores 49/100 — 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.
Why does Ohio State University-Main Campus rank so high for Criminology?
The #26 ranking out of 111 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →