U.S. median for this major: $55,208.
College Scorecard field of study; 51 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 35% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $76,058. College Scorecard.
American University Criminal Justice: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Criminal Justice nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses American University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $23,233 | $95,023 | 3.3 years |
| $30–48k | $20,444 | $83,616 | 2.9 years |
| $48–75k | $26,035 | $106,483 | 3.7 years |
| $75–110k | $30,063 | $122,958 | 4.3 years |
| $110k+ | $53,673 | $219,523 | 7.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (72% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Criminal Justice graduates 4 years after graduating ($66,970) minus $38,184 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in DC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $28,786 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Criminal Justice at District of Columbia colleges
Every District of Columbia college we cover that reports Criminal Justice graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Washington University | $80,070 | $20,500 | $36,586 | 84% |
| 2 | American University | $66,970 | $23,250 | $41,943 | 75% |
| 3 | Trinity Washington University | $59,708 | $33,564 | $9,302 | 49% |
| 4 | Howard University | $55,902 | $26,000 | $50,539 | 70% |
Careers for Criminal Justice graduates
Police officer
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.5% by 2035. Typical entry: high school diploma or equivalent.
Compliance Officers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at American University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About American University
- Acceptance rate: 62% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $77,370
- Full cost breakdown · all 44 majors · overview
Related majors at American University
- Anthropology$53,036
American University Criminal Justice questions
How much do American University Criminal Justice graduates earn?
Criminal Justice graduates of American University earn a median $66,970 four years after graduating and $37,147 one year after. The U.S. median for Criminal Justice graduates across 584 colleges is $55,208.
How much debt do American University Criminal Justice graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Criminal Justice graduates of American University is $23,250, about 35% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is American University a good school for Criminal Justice in District of Columbia?
On pay, Criminal Justice graduates of American University earn $66,970 four years out, $3,631 above the median for the same major across 4 District of Columbia colleges ($63,339) and $11,762 above the U.S. median ($55,208). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does American University rank for Criminal Justice in District of Columbia?
Of 4 District of Columbia colleges reporting Criminal Justice graduate earnings, American University ranks 2nd. The highest is George Washington University at $80,070.
What jobs do Criminal Justice graduates get?
A common career is police officer, with a median wage of $84,000 in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area and $76,210 nationally. Others include compliance officers and child, family, and school social workers.
Is American University the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing American University with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “American University Criminal Justice: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/american-university/majors/criminal-justice (College Scorecard and BLS data).