Location: San Jose, CA•In-State Tuition: $7,992•Out-of-State Tuition: $19,872•Admission Rate: 80%
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$36,092
Est. from CA median (23 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$13,632
Est. from CA median (14 programs)

Analysis

Based on comparable programs across California, San Jose State's criminal justice bachelor's degree appears to start modestly but builds substantial momentum. Similar programs in the state suggest first-year earnings around $36,000, but by year four, actual reported data shows graduates earning just over $60,500—a 68% increase that significantly outpaces typical wage growth. The estimated $13,600 in debt is nearly half the national median of $26,130, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38.

What distinguishes this program is that four-year trajectory. While National University criminal justice graduates in California report higher early earnings at $64,000, SJSU's eventual outcome of $60,500 puts it solidly in the upper tier for the state. The gap between estimated first-year and actual fourth-year figures is unusually large, suggesting graduates may enter in lower-paying roles but advance quickly—common in law enforcement and corrections where experience and civil service advancement matter considerably.

The financial picture here is favorable: low debt burden combined with strong mid-career earnings. However, parents should understand these figures are drawn from peer programs, not SJSU-specific outcomes. The real question is whether your student can navigate those early years at $36,000 while building toward that $60,000 mark—and whether they're prepared for the demands of criminal justice careers that drive those earnings.

Where San Jose State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections bachelors's programs nationally

San Jose State University (estimated ±10%)Other criminal justice and corrections programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
San Jose State University—$60,503—
Sonoma State University$38,444$58,007+51%
California State University-East Bay$45,387$57,898+28%
California Baptist University$35,960$57,399+60%
San Francisco State University$42,211$56,243+33%

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (41 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
San Jose State UniversitySan Jose$7,992$36,092*$60,503$13,632*—
National UniversitySan Diego$13,320$64,143*$55,598$28,014*0.44
University of Phoenix-CaliforniaOntario—$47,987*$44,185$46,989*0.98
Ashford UniversitySan Diego$13,160$47,869*$46,544$37,625*0.79
California State University-East BayHayward$7,055$45,387*$57,898$15,500*0.34
Point Loma Nazarene UniversitySan Diego$43,550$45,022*—$14,000*0.31
National Median—$37,856*—$26,130*0.69
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At San Jose State University, approximately 35% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 23 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.