Criminal Justice and Corrections at Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit · Associate Degree

A 99% acceptance rate means Liberty University is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 50,059 in Lynchburg, VA.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $43,287/yr, edging above the $39,484 national average for Criminal Justice and Corrections — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 11.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Criminal Justice and Corrections programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice and Corrections's career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,193 represents roughly 8 months of the $43,287 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

Ranked #344 of 469 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs, Liberty University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $46,657 are relatively flat compared to the $43,287 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

Criminal Justice and Corrections offers 17 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
58
Low End
63
Score
64
High End
Earnings $43,287/yr (10% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$472K
1.9% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
11.1x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
20 of 20
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$42,444
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,193
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,657
8% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Managers, all other $136,550 +4.5% 53%
First-line supervisors of police and detectives $105,980 +2.9% 67%
Detectives and criminal investigators $93,580 -0.7% 47%
Managers, all other
$136,550
+4.5% growth 53% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of police and detectives
$105,980
+2.9% growth 67% AI-proof
Detectives and criminal investigators
$93,580
-0.7% growth 47% AI-proof

View all 20 career paths with full salary data →

About Criminal Justice and Corrections Careers

Your career in criminal justice often begins on the front lines, where demand is steady. You might start as a security guard, patrolling a corporate campus, monitoring surveillance feeds, and logging daily activity. Many graduates pursue a path as a police or sheriff's patrol officer, where your "office" is a patrol car and your daily tasks involve responding to calls, community engagement, and detailed incident reporting back at the station.

Read the full Criminal Justice and Corrections career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice and Corrections Overview

Criminal Justice and Corrections at Other Schools

Other Majors at Liberty University

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at Liberty University?
This program scores 63/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Criminal Justice and Corrections programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates?
There are 17 registered apprenticeships connected to Criminal Justice and Corrections occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Criminal Justice and Corrections workers?
The career paths mapped to Criminal Justice and Corrections have roughly 480,600 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →