U.S. median for this major: $55,208.
College Scorecard field of study; 26 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 39% 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 $16,578. College Scorecard.
Montana State University-Northern Criminal Justice: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Montana colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 Montana State University-Northern'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 | $9,940 | $44,134 | 1.6 years |
| $30–48k | $9,242 | $41,034 | 1.5 years |
| $48–75k | $12,451 | $55,282 | 2.0 years |
| $75–110k | $16,315 | $72,439 | 2.6 years |
| $110k+ | $16,578 | $73,606 | 2.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (23% 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 ($61,748) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MT (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $28,232 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.
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 Montana State University-Northern, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Montana State University-Northern
- Acceptance rate: — · admissions
- Graduation rate: 41% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $49,505
- Full cost breakdown · all 18 majors · overview
Montana State University-Northern Criminal Justice questions
How much do Montana State University-Northern Criminal Justice graduates earn?
Criminal Justice graduates of Montana State University-Northern earn a median $61,748 four years after graduating and $43,158 one year after. The U.S. median for Criminal Justice graduates across 584 colleges is $55,208.
How much debt do Montana State University-Northern Criminal Justice graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Criminal Justice graduates of Montana State University-Northern is $24,069, about 39% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Where does Montana State University-Northern rank for Criminal Justice in Montana?
Of 1 Montana colleges reporting Criminal Justice graduate earnings, Montana State University-Northern ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Criminal Justice graduates get?
A common career is police officer, with a median wage of $70,050 in Montana and $76,210 nationally. Others include compliance officers and child, family, and school social workers.
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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: “Montana State University-Northern Criminal Justice: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/montana-state-university-northern/majors/criminal-justice (College Scorecard and BLS data).