Criminal Justice at University of South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
51
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,447/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk
Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI
11.0x earnings multiple (5.7x 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 | $511K | $510K | $473K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 11.0x | 11.0x | 10.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.7x | 5.7x | 5.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 34% | 32% | 26% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 51 | 51 | 41 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$46,332
Out-of-state: $90,180 (5.7x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,655
8.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,300
46% growth from Year 1
About University of South Carolina-Upstate
A 70% admission rate makes University of South Carolina-Upstate accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a smaller student body of 4,008 in Spartanburg, SC. Pell Grant recipients make up 45% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.
See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Upstate →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
Criminal Justice at Other Schools
Other Majors at University of South Carolina-Upstate
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at University of South Carolina-Upstate?
This program scores 51/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Criminal Justice programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →