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Public Safety & Security · Criminal Justice Rank #248 of 629

Criminal Justiceat Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Graduates earn $64,894/yr in their first year — about 68.0% above the national Criminal Justice average. Base-case 10-year earnings $572K; scenarios range from $523K to $578K depending on AI disruption.

Winona, MN Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
54 AVERAGE
54
Optimistic
47
Pessimistic
Earnings
$64,894
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.6x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$572K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
40% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

The strong outcomes for Saint Mary's Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates aren't just about traditional policing; the program likely cultivates a broader skill set. Its curriculum, perhaps emphasizing investigative analysis, data interpretation, or forensic accounting principles, allows you to pivot into specialized roles beyond uniformed services. This breadth is crucial in a state like Minnesota, where the demand for skilled professionals in areas like financial fraud investigation, corporate security, or even compliance is robust.

You'll find graduates excelling not just in local and state agencies, but also in private sector roles where their analytical prowess is highly valued. The program’s reputation and potential strong regional recruiting pipelines with employers seeking future leaders contribute significantly to these elevated earnings. To maximize your potential, actively seek internships that expose you to these diverse career avenues, especially those blending justice with finance or technology.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$523K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score47/100
Earnings Multiple3.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$572K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple3.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$578K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple3.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Criminal Justice graduates typically work

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.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
First-line supervisors of police and detectives
+2.9% 10-yr growth · 10,900 openings/yr
$105,980/yr
Moderate
3
Detectives and criminal investigators
-0.7% 10-yr growth · 7,800 openings/yr
$93,580/yr
High
4
Financial examiners
+18.5% 10-yr growth · 5,700 openings/yr
$90,400/yr
High
5
Emergency management directors
+3.0% 10-yr growth · 1,000 openings/yr
$86,130/yr
Moderate
6
Transit and railroad police
+3.0% 10-yr growth · 200 openings/yr
$82,320/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Criminal Justice

How Saint Mary's University of Minnesota stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Charter Oak State College
CT · Public
67
DW Score
$69K
1-yr earn
19.3x
ROI
Herzing University-Birmingham
AL · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Herzing University-Atlanta
GA · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Same state (MN)
Herzing University-Minneapolis
MN · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Herzing University-Akron
OH · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Also at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Other top programs at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Criminal Justice at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

What does a 54/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota?

At 54/100, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's Criminal Justice program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

What do students actually pay for Criminal Justice at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota?

The 51% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $172,640. At a net cost of $84,136, the earnings multiple improves substantially.