Criminal Justiceat Western Illinois University
Graduates earn $40,898/yr in their first year — about 6.0% above the national Criminal Justice average. Base-case 10-year earnings $567K; scenarios range from $520K to $573K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Western Illinois University
First-year earnings of $40,898 at Western Illinois University come in 6% above the national median of $38,544 for Criminal Justice programs.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.5x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice's typical career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $24,859 represents roughly 7 months of the $40,898 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #84 of 629 nationally, this is a top-5% Criminal Justice program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $65,120 show a 59% jump from the $40,898 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Western Illinois University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Criminal Justice
How Western Illinois University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Western Illinois University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Western Illinois 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 →Frequently asked about Criminal Justice at Western Illinois University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Western Illinois University?
A score of 60/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Criminal Justice field.
What makes Western Illinois University's Criminal Justice program stand out?
Ranked #84 of 629 programs nationally, Western Illinois University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.