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Criminal Justice at Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, NH · Private nonprofit · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

Southern New Hampshire University has a 96% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 156,755 students enrolled in Manchester, NH.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $42,957/yr, edging above the $39,484 national average for Criminal Justice — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 19.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Criminal Justice programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice's career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 33% gap from the optimistic case.

At $16,715 in median debt against $42,957 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #294 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Southern New Hampshire University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $42,957 to $61,744 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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

65 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
59
Low End
65
Score
67
High End
Earnings $42,957/yr (9% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$668K
9.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
20.3x
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
$32,900
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,715
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,744
44% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Criminal Justice 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 →

Criminal Justice Career Guide

Criminal Justice opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

View all 469 schools offering Criminal Justice →

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Santa Rosa Junior College ($111,649) San Bernardino Valley College ($94,285) San Diego Miramar College ($91,647) Monroe Community College ($85,061) Moreno Valley College ($81,339) Gateway Technical College ($73,818) Butte College ($73,170) Red Rocks Community College ($72,583)

Other Majors at Southern New Hampshire University

Health Administration ($52,549) Computer Science ($50,111) Business Administration ($46,051) Marketing ($45,084) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($43,806) Accounting ($37,986) Film & Photography ($27,990)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Criminal Justice degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Southern New Hampshire University?
This program scores 65/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Criminal Justice programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice graduates?
Beyond Southern New Hampshire University's classroom route, 17 registered apprenticeships map to Criminal Justice careers — including Correction Officer. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
How sensitive is Criminal Justice to AI disruption?
The 33% scenario spread reflects genuine uncertainty. Some career paths within Criminal Justice are more exposed than others — the aggregate score blends resistant and vulnerable roles.
Will Criminal Justice graduates from Southern New Hampshire University find jobs?
Job availability for Criminal Justice is strong — 480,600 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Southern New Hampshire University graduates specifically, local market conditions in NH may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →