Criminal Justice at San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
58
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,261/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk
Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI
16.2x earnings multiple (6.7x 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 | $541K | $537K | $495K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 16.3x | 16.2x | 14.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.7x | 6.7x | 6.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 34% | 32% | 26% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 58 | 58 | 48 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$33,160
Out-of-state: $80,680 (6.7x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,499
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,637
67% growth from Year 1
About San Diego State University
A 34% acceptance rate puts San Diego State University in competitive admissions territory, with 33,654 students enrolled in San Diego, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at San Diego State 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
Other Majors at San Diego State University
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
How does San Diego State University's Criminal Justice program score?
This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice graduates.
Why does San Diego State University rank so high for Criminal Justice?
The #126 ranking out of 629 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 →