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Criminal Justice and Corrections at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $41,020/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

ROI 10.8x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #77 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs Top 25%

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	$567K	$561K	$515K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.9x	10.8x	9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.9x	4.8x	4.4x
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)

$51,988

Out-of-state: $116,292 (4.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$57,604

-11% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,538

5.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$63,847

56% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Washington State University's Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates start at $41,020/yr — above the $38,544 national average, though not by a wide margin.

With a 10.8x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 9% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Criminal Justice and Corrections career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,538 in median debt clears quickly against $41,020 in annual earnings.

Washington State University ranks #77 among 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The $41,020-to-$63,847 earnings arc over five years reflects a 56% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.

About Washington State University

A 85% acceptance rate means Washington State University is accessible to most applicants, one of the larger campuses at 21,583 students in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington State 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

Criminal Justice and Corrections at Other Schools

Other Majors at Washington State University

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 does a 61/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice and Corrections at Washington State University?

At 61/100, Washington State University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Is Washington State University one of the best schools for Criminal Justice and Corrections?

Among 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs, Washington State University's #77 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 →