Criminal Justice at University of Nebraska at Kearney
Kearney, NE · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
58
Base Case
47
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)
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 | $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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,250
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,731
24% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
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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 program score?
This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice graduates.
Why does University of Nebraska at Kearney rank so high for Criminal Justice?
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 →