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MASTER'S DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 4301

Criminal Justice and Corrections: is this master's degree worth it?

National picture across 119 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$64,860 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$64,860Median year-4 earnings

$20,097Average institution net-price context

Not availableMedian federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$64,860Median reported earnings · year 4

$63,826Average reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

25thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

119Reporting programs

119With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

The same field can produce a different equation.

Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.

OPEN PROFILE

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings: $56,070
Federal debt: $14,063
Reporting programs: 187

178 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $46,940
Federal debt: $14,250
Reporting programs: 480

460 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $54,228
Federal debt: $26,000
Reporting programs: 724

708 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Post-baccalaureate Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $104,592
Federal debt: $20,182
Reporting programs: 3

3 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $64,860
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 119

119 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Doctoral Degree

Year-4 earnings: $96,102
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 3

3 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $75,547
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 3

3 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings: $61,271
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 5

5 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

Where the middle half of programs lands

Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.

Median

25th percentile$59,110National median$64,86075th percentile$75,983

119 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1University of San Diego$148,025 2Curry College$136,583 3University of Chicago$128,337 4Salve Regina University$116,495 5University of Massachusetts-Lowell$109,714 6University of Louisville$107,484 7Salem State University$107,339 8Columbus State University$94,267 9Northeastern University$93,210 10Northeastern University Professional Programs$93,210

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1111 · 17 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesSOC 33-1012 · 9 crosswalk linksDetectives and Criminal InvestigatorsSOC 33-3021 · 7 crosswalk linksPolice and Sheriff’s Patrol OfficersSOC 33-3051 · 7 crosswalk linksPrivate Detectives and InvestigatorsSOC 33-9021 · 5 crosswalk linksCorrectional Officers and JailersSOC 33-3012 · 4 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersSOC 33-1011 · 4 crosswalk linksManagers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 3 crosswalk linksEmergency Management DirectorsSOC 11-9161 · 2 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All OtherSOC 33-1099 · 2 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersSOC 33-1091 · 2 crosswalk linksLife, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherSOC 19-4099 · 2 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	ROI status	Cost context
1	University of San DiegoMaster's Degree	San Diego, CA	$148,025	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,365
2	Curry CollegeMaster's Degree	Milton, MA	$136,583	Not available	Baseline needed	$29,207
3	University of ChicagoMaster's Degree	Chicago, IL	$128,337	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,860
4	Salve Regina UniversityMaster's Degree	Newport, RI	$116,495	Not available	Baseline needed	$36,967
5	University of Massachusetts-LowellMaster's Degree	Lowell, MA	$109,714	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,163
6	University of LouisvilleMaster's Degree	Louisville, KY	$107,484	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,988
7	Salem State UniversityMaster's Degree	Salem, MA	$107,339	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,996
8	Columbus State UniversityMaster's Degree	Columbus, GA	$94,267	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,115
9	Northeastern UniversityMaster's Degree	Boston, MA	$93,210	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,915
10	Northeastern University Professional ProgramsMaster's Degree	Boston, MA	$93,210	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
11	Bellevue UniversityMaster's Degree	Bellevue, NE	$92,230	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,550
12	Seattle UniversityMaster's Degree	Seattle, WA	$89,830	Not available	Baseline needed	$34,662
13	American Public University SystemMaster's Degree	Charles Town, WV	$89,135	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,597
14	American UniversityMaster's Degree	Washington, DC	$89,015	Not available	Baseline needed	$41,943
15	Concordia University-Saint PaulMaster's Degree	Saint Paul, MN	$88,914	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,462
16	Methodist UniversityMaster's Degree	Fayetteville, NC	$88,766	Not available	Baseline needed	$24,704
17	Saint Elizabeth UniversityMaster's Degree	Morristown, NJ	$86,408	Not available	Baseline needed	$23,125
18	Lewis UniversityMaster's Degree	Romeoville, IL	$84,837	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,028
19	Michigan State UniversityMaster's Degree	East Lansing, MI	$84,105	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,680
20	Sacred Heart UniversityMaster's Degree	Fairfield, CT	$80,320	Not available	Baseline needed	$46,174
21	Colorado State University GlobalMaster's Degree	Denver, CO	$80,306	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,510
22	CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeMaster's Degree	New York, NY	$79,246	Not available	Baseline needed	$3,203
23	Boston UniversityMaster's Degree	Boston, MA	$79,216	Not available	Baseline needed	$24,402
24	Western Illinois UniversityMaster's Degree	Macomb, IL	$78,861	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,937
25	University of New HavenMaster's Degree	West Haven, CT	$78,739	Not available	Baseline needed	$34,192
26	St. John's University-New YorkMaster's Degree	Queens, NY	$78,510	Not available	Baseline needed	$29,999
27	Arizona State University Campus ImmersionMaster's Degree	Tempe, AZ	$78,014	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,967
28	Arizona State University Digital ImmersionMaster's Degree	Scottsdale, AZ	$78,014	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
29	Rutgers University-CamdenMaster's Degree	Camden, NJ	$75,983	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,745
30	Rutgers University-New BrunswickMaster's Degree	New Brunswick, NJ	$75,983	Not available	Baseline needed	$24,406
31	Rutgers University-NewarkMaster's Degree	Newark, NJ	$75,983	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,703
32	Roger Williams UniversityMaster's Degree	Bristol, RI	$75,846	Not available	Baseline needed	$37,999
33	Central Connecticut State UniversityMaster's Degree	New Britain, CT	$75,636	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,857
34	Bridgewater State UniversityMaster's Degree	Bridgewater, MA	$75,101	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,383
35	Liberty UniversityMaster's Degree	Lynchburg, VA	$75,034	Not available	Baseline needed	$29,357
36	University of Wisconsin-PlattevilleMaster's Degree	Platteville, WI	$74,581	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,032
37	Xavier UniversityMaster's Degree	Cincinnati, OH	$74,465	Not available	Baseline needed	$32,997
38	Florida State UniversityMaster's Degree	Tallahassee, FL	$72,705	Not available	Baseline needed	$11,297
39	University of Houston-DowntownMaster's Degree	Houston, TX	$72,529	Not available	Baseline needed	$10,542
40	The University of Texas at ArlingtonMaster's Degree	Arlington, TX	$71,022	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,951
41	University of South FloridaMaster's Degree	Tampa, FL	$70,885	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,812
42	Molloy UniversityMaster's Degree	Rockville Centre, NY	$70,003	Not available	Baseline needed	$24,347
43	Wayne State UniversityMaster's Degree	Detroit, MI	$69,900	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,766
44	Anderson UniversityMaster's Degree	Anderson, SC	$69,725	Not available	Baseline needed	$23,544
45	Loyola University ChicagoMaster's Degree	Chicago, IL	$69,541	Not available	Baseline needed	$36,079
46	University of BaltimoreMaster's Degree	Baltimore, MD	$69,541	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,868
47	Faulkner UniversityMaster's Degree	Montgomery, AL	$69,371	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,085
48	University of Nebraska at OmahaMaster's Degree	Omaha, NE	$68,898	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,441
49	Monroe UniversityMaster's Degree	Bronx, NY	$68,809	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,522
50	Mount Mercy UniversityMaster's Degree	Cedar Rapids, IA	$68,575	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,168
51	Missouri Baptist UniversityMaster's Degree	Saint Louis, MO	$67,705	Not available	Baseline needed	$27,006
52	Southern New Hampshire UniversityMaster's Degree	Manchester, NH	$67,346	Not available	Baseline needed	$36,708
53	Saint Ambrose UniversityMaster's Degree	Davenport, IA	$67,022	Not available	Baseline needed	$24,691
54	East Carolina UniversityMaster's Degree	Greenville, NC	$66,995	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,739
55	Kent State University at KentMaster's Degree	Kent, OH	$66,266	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,787
56	Texas State UniversityMaster's Degree	San Marcos, TX	$65,491	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,805
57	Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionMaster's Degree	Marion, IN	$65,434	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,866
58	Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalMaster's Degree	Marion, IN	$65,434	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,898
59	National UniversityMaster's Degree	San Diego, CA	$65,405	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,878
60	Tarleton State UniversityMaster's Degree	Stephenville, TX	$64,860	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,783
61	Indiana University-IndianapolisMaster's Degree	Indianapolis, IN	$64,843	Not available	Baseline needed	$11,668
62	Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleMaster's Degree	Fort Lauderdale, FL	$64,691	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,498
63	Waynesburg UniversityMaster's Degree	Waynesburg, PA	$64,508	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,235
64	University of Cincinnati-Main CampusMaster's Degree	Cincinnati, OH	$64,278	Not available	Baseline needed	$25,648
65	Columbia Southern UniversityMaster's Degree	Orange Beach, AL	$64,135	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,580
66	Lamar UniversityMaster's Degree	Beaumont, TX	$63,452	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,366
67	Florida International UniversityMaster's Degree	Miami, FL	$63,083	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,288
68	Wichita State UniversityMaster's Degree	Wichita, KS	$62,768	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,194
69	Capella UniversityMaster's Degree	Minneapolis, MN	$62,676	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,956
70	Saint Leo UniversityMaster's Degree	Saint Leo, FL	$62,658	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,293
71	Sam Houston State UniversityMaster's Degree	Huntsville, TX	$62,489	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,404
72	Columbia CollegeMaster's Degree	Columbia, SC	$61,821	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,408
73	Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan CampusMaster's Degree	Teaneck, NJ	$61,820	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,404
74	Nova Southeastern UniversityMaster's Degree	Fort Lauderdale, FL	$61,713	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,371
75	Grand Canyon UniversityMaster's Degree	Phoenix, AZ	$61,712	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,472
76	University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusMaster's Degree	Denver, CO	$61,655	Not available	Baseline needed	$11,900
77	Charleston Southern UniversityMaster's Degree	Charleston, SC	$61,377	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,666
78	Wilmington UniversityMaster's Degree	New Castle, DE	$61,346	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,644
79	Fairmont State UniversityMaster's Degree	Fairmont, WV	$61,021	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,032
80	Walden UniversityMaster's Degree	Minneapolis, MN	$60,679	Not available	Baseline needed	$33,817
81	Auburn University at MontgomeryMaster's Degree	Montgomery, AL	$60,593	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,224
82	The University of Texas at San AntonioMaster's Degree	San Antonio, TX	$60,455	Not available	Baseline needed	$10,836
83	University of Central FloridaMaster's Degree	Orlando, FL	$60,329	Not available	Baseline needed	$10,411
84	Florida Atlantic UniversityMaster's Degree	Boca Raton, FL	$60,144	Not available	Baseline needed	$8,752
85	Chaminade University of HonoluluMaster's Degree	Honolulu, HI	$60,090	Not available	Baseline needed	$28,856
86	Bethel UniversityMaster's Degree	McKenzie, TN	$59,965	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,595
87	McNeese State UniversityMaster's Degree	Lake Charles, LA	$59,792	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,493
88	North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityMaster's Degree	Rocky Mount, NC	$59,779	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,432
89	University of Phoenix-ArizonaMaster's Degree	Phoenix, AZ	$59,110	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,520
90	Purdue University GlobalMaster's Degree	West Lafayette, IN	$59,014	Not available	Baseline needed	$7,770
91	Columbia CollegeMaster's Degree	Columbia, MO	$58,415	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,715
92	Troy UniversityMaster's Degree	Troy, AL	$58,231	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,527
93	The University of Arizona Global CampusMaster's Degree	Chandler, AZ	$57,836	Not available	Baseline needed	$31,266
94	Southern University and A&M CollegeMaster's Degree	Baton Rouge, LA	$56,111	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,077
95	Southern University Law CenterMaster's Degree	Baton Rouge, LA	$56,111	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
96	South University-MontgomeryMaster's Degree	Montgomery, AL	$55,950	Not available	Baseline needed	$27,807
97	South University-West Palm BeachMaster's Degree	Royal Palm Beach, FL	$55,950	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,271
98	South University-SavannahMaster's Degree	Savannah, GA	$55,950	Not available	Baseline needed	$28,743
99	South University-ColumbiaMaster's Degree	Columbia, SC	$55,950	Not available	Baseline needed	$27,693
100	South University-TampaMaster's Degree	Tampa, FL	$55,950	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,434

This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.