Criminal Justiceat University of Northern Iowa
Graduates earn $43,748/yr in their first year — about 14.0% above the national Criminal Justice average. Base-case 10-year earnings $496K; scenarios range from $461K to $496K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Northern Iowa
First-year earnings of $43,748 at University of Northern Iowa come in 14% above the national median of $38,544 for Criminal Justice programs.
The 12.7x 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 $43,748 far exceeding the $15,178 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #225 out of 629 programs, University of Northern Iowa's Criminal Justice offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Northern Iowa's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Criminal Justice
How University of Northern Iowa stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Northern Iowa
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Northern Iowa, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Criminal Justice offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Criminal Justice trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Criminal Justice at University of Northern Iowa
How does University of Northern Iowa's Criminal Justice program score?
This program scores 55/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice graduates.