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Public Safety & Security · Criminal Justice Rank #6 of 629

Criminal Justiceat Utah Valley University

Graduates earn $44,051/yr in their first year — about 14.0% above the national Criminal Justice average. Base-case 10-year earnings $544K; scenarios range from $501K to $549K depending on AI disruption.

Orem, UT Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
68 SOLID
68
Optimistic
58
Pessimistic
Earnings
$44,051
1-year post-graduation
ROI
23.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$544K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
40% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Utah Valley University

This program consistently positions graduates well, reflecting a robust regional demand for qualified professionals across public safety and related fields. The proximity to the dynamic Provo-Orem metro area, coupled with Utah's growing communities, creates consistent recruitment pipelines into local police departments, the Utah County Sheriff's Office, and state agencies like the Utah Department of Corrections.

Graduates often find success not just in entry-level roles, but progress quickly into specialized investigative positions or supervisory capacities, as indicated by the advanced career paths. The curriculum likely emphasizes practical skills and critical thinking applicable to various law enforcement, correctional, and even corporate security or compliance roles, explaining paths like financial examination. To maximize your outcomes, actively seek out internships with local and state agencies early in your academic career; this hands-on experience is invaluable for networking and securing those higher-paying, specialized roles upon graduation.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$501K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple20.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$544K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple21.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$549K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple21.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Utah Valley University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Criminal Justice graduates typically work

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.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
First-line supervisors of police and detectives
+2.9% 10-yr growth · 10,900 openings/yr
$105,980/yr
Moderate
3
Detectives and criminal investigators
-0.7% 10-yr growth · 7,800 openings/yr
$93,580/yr
High
4
Financial examiners
+18.5% 10-yr growth · 5,700 openings/yr
$90,400/yr
High
5
Emergency management directors
+3.0% 10-yr growth · 1,000 openings/yr
$86,130/yr
Moderate
6
Transit and railroad police
+3.0% 10-yr growth · 200 openings/yr
$82,320/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Criminal Justice

How Utah Valley University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Charter Oak State College
CT · Public
67
DW Score
$69K
1-yr earn
19.3x
ROI
Herzing University-Birmingham
AL · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Herzing University-Atlanta
GA · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Herzing University-Minneapolis
MN · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Herzing University-Akron
OH · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Also at Utah Valley University

Other top programs at Utah Valley University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Utah Valley University, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Criminal Justice at Utah Valley University

What does a 68/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at Utah Valley University?

At 68/100, Utah Valley University's Criminal Justice program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Is Utah Valley University one of the best schools for Criminal Justice?

Among 629 Criminal Justice programs, Utah Valley University's #6 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.