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Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Richmond

VA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 43.01

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Criminal Justice and Corrections degree from University of Richmond earn a median salary of $67,138 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in VA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $65,500. The degree typically pays for itself in 6.9 years.

Quick Insights

Solid Investment

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$51,929

Typical Career

$67,138

Top Performers

$101,906

Estimated break-even: 6.9 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$448

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,595. Most students can comfortably afford about a $448 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.7x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.9x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Virginia buys what costs $1.03 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Finance & Insurance, Educational Services.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 26.5%
Finance & Insurance 14.1%
Educational Services 13.8%

Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$65,500

Nominal: $67,138 in Virginia (COL 102.5% of national avg) · 2.4% lower purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

6.9 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $30,647 $45,751 $68,249
5 Years After Graduation $51,929 $67,138 $101,906
10 Years After Graduation $63,346 $92,587 $127,888

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $67,138 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in VA, which has a cost-of-living index of 102.5% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $67,138 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0250) = $65,500 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates in Criminal Justice and Corrections from the University of Richmond experience a significant earnings trajectory. One year after graduation, median earnings stand at $45,751, which increases to $67,138 after five years and reaches $92,587 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns closely with the national equivalent at $65,500.49, reflecting the cost of living in Virginia, which has a COL index of 1.025 compared to the national average of 1.0.

The top industries for graduates include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (26.5%), Finance & Insurance (14.1%), and Educational Services (13.8%). The estimated break-even point for pursuing a degree versus a high-school-only path is approximately 6.9 years, suggesting that graduates can expect a favorable return on investment over time. Overall, the career prospects in this field appear promising, with strong earning potential and diverse industry opportunities.

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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.