Criminal Justice and Corrections at Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
53 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
54
Optimistic
53
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,495/yr (-0% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 8.1x earnings multiple (3.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #289 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $540K $536K $494K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.2x 8.1x 7.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.5x 3.4x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 54 53 43

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,832
Out-of-state: $156,168 (3.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$77,808
-18% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,250
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,508
49% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $38,495 track close to the $38,544 national median for Criminal Justice and Corrections programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.1x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice and Corrections's typical career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,250 represents roughly 7 months of the $38,495 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #289 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs, Virginia Commonwealth University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $38,495 to $57,508 over five years — a 49% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University has a 93% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 20,797 in Richmond, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Commonwealth University →

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
View all 20 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at Virginia Commonwealth University?
A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Criminal Justice and Corrections field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →