Criminal Justice at University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
61
Optimistic
61
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,402/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk
Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI
14.0x earnings multiple (10.2x 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 | $533K | $530K | $489K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 14.1x | 14.0x | 13.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 10.3x | 10.2x | 9.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 34% | 32% | 26% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 61 | 61 | 50 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$37,728
Out-of-state: $51,768 (10.2x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,807
41% growth from Year 1
About University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 5,239 students in Vermillion, SD.
See all programs and financial aid at University of South Dakota →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
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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
What does a 61/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at University of South Dakota?
At 61/100, University of South Dakota's Criminal Justice program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Is University of South Dakota one of the best schools for Criminal Justice?
Among 629 Criminal Justice programs, University of South Dakota's #74 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →