Criminology at St. Mary's University

San Antonio, TX · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
30
Optimistic
30
Base Case
18
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,978/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (122,700 openings/yr)
ROI 3.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #105 of 111 Criminology programs

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 $482K $483K $451K
Earnings Multiple 3.3x 3.3x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 30% 22%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 30 18

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$144,968
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$85,408
41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,067
8.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,974
29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $33,978/yr, roughly in line with the $36,749 national median for Criminology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 3.3x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Criminology's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,067 represents roughly 9 months of the $33,978 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #105 of 111 Criminology programs, St. Mary's University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $33,978 to $43,974 over five years — a 29% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About St. Mary's University

St. Mary's University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 1,911 students in San Antonio, TX. 42% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity. The average net cost of $85,408 over four years represents a 41% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at St. Mary's University →

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

Criminology at Other Schools

Other Majors at St. Mary's 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminology at St. Mary's University?
A score of 30/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Criminology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Criminology careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $450,905 in decade earnings vs $482,269 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →