Criminal Justice
Homeland Security & Law Enforcement · federal classification: Criminal Justice and Corrections
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $55,834 | $45,171 to $67,471 | 193 | 91% |
| Associate's Degree | $46,931 | $41,312 to $53,294 | 441 | 97% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $54,189 | $49,005 to $58,997 | 690 | 99% |
| Master's Degree | $62,667 | $55,950 to $74,921 | 142 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +3% (2024 to 2034), about 480,600 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Guards | $38,370 | +0.4% | 161,000 |
| Managers, All Other | $136,550 | +4.5% | 106,700 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,290 | +3.1% | 53,700 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $58,570 | +3.4% | 35,100 |
| Compliance Officers | $78,420 | +3% | 33,300 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $57,970 | -7.8% | 30,100 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.