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Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Nebraska at Kearney

Kearney, NE · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,128/yr (4% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

ROI 15.1x earnings multiple (8.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #136 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$501K	$500K	$465K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.1x	15.1x	14.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.8x	8.8x	8.2x
Probability of Field Employment	34%	32%	26%
DegreeOutlook Score	58	58	47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$33,208

Out-of-state: $57,040 (8.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$65,952

-99% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,250

5.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$49,731

24% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $40,128/yr, roughly in line with the $38,544 national median for Criminal Justice and Corrections. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 15.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 36% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $40,128 far exceeding the $19,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #136 out of 629 programs, University of Nebraska at Kearney's Criminal Justice and Corrections program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $40,128 to $49,731 shows 24% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Nebraska at Kearney

University of Nebraska at Kearney accepts 86% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 4,130 students in Kearney, NE.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Nebraska at Kearney →

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

View all 20 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice and Corrections at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Nebraska at Kearney

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

How does University of Nebraska at Kearney's Criminal Justice and Corrections program score?

This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.

Why does University of Nebraska at Kearney rank so high for Criminal Justice and Corrections?

The #136 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 →