Criminal Justice at Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
56
Optimistic
55
Base Case
45
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,614/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk
Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI
8.8x earnings multiple (7.0x 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 | $495K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 8.8x | 8.8x | 8.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 7.1x | 7.0x | 6.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 34% | 32% | 26% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 56 | 55 | 45 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$61,192
Out-of-state: $76,392 (7.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,033
7.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,991
46% growth from Year 1
About Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 12,704 students in Kalamazoo, MI.
See all programs and financial aid at Western Michigan 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
Other Majors at Western Michigan University
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a 55/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at Western Michigan University?
At 55/100, Western Michigan University's Criminal Justice program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →