Criminal Justice Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of criminal behavior, law enforcement, courts, and correctional systems.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$62K
salary
ROI Payback
5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
3.5%
rate
Criminal Justice Overview
Study of criminal behavior, law enforcement, courts, and correctional systems.
Category
Social Sciences
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
58%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
22%
Lifetime Premium
$350K
Female Graduates
42%
Criminal Justice Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$14,400
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$14,400
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$335,600
Lifetime earnings premium ($350,000) minus net degree cost ($14,400)
Criminal Justice Salary Progression
Common Criminal Justice Careers
Police Officer
FBI Agent
Probation Officer
Crime Analyst
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Criminal Justice
#1
John Jay College
#2
University of Maryland
#3
Penn State
#4
Michigan State
#5
Northeastern
Related Majors
Criminal Justice Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Criminal Justice Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for criminal justice programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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