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Criminology at University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,522/yr (-6% vs median)

AI Risk High (50% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (122,700 openings/yr)

ROI 9.7x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #35 of 111 Criminology programs Top 50%

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	$561K	$554K	$503K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.9x	9.7x	8.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.1x	3.1x	2.8x
Probability of Field Employment	34%	30%	22%
DegreeOutlook Score	46	46	34

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$56,948

Out-of-state: $180,056 (3.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$51,360

10% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,383

5.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$59,960

74% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,522 track close to the $36,749 national median for Criminology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.7x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

At $15,383 in median debt against $34,522 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #35 of 111 Criminology programs, University of California-Irvine scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $59,960 show a 74% jump from the $34,522 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Irvine

University of California-Irvine admits 26% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, with 29,494 students enrolled in Irvine, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Irvine →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminology at University of California-Irvine?

A score of 46/100 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 $502,548 in decade earnings vs $561,262 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →