Criminal Justice at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Magnolia, AR · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings
$28,541/yr (-26% vs median)
AI Risk
Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI
12.4x earnings multiple (7.9x 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 | $487K | $487K | $455K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.4x | 12.4x | 11.6x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 7.9x | 7.9x | 7.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 34% | 32% | 26% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 45 | 44 | 36 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,280
Out-of-state: $61,600 (7.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,199
9.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,230
51% growth from Year 1
About Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus's 67% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, a smaller institution with 2,865 students in Magnolia, AR. 45% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.
See all programs and financial aid at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus →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 Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a 44/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
At 44/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Criminal Justice programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Is Southern Arkansas University Main Campus a good choice for Criminal Justice despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Southern Arkansas University Main Campus's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →