Criminal Justice at Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections
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)
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 | $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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,250
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,508
49% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
Criminal Justice at Other Schools
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Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice 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 field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →