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First, some facts. Of the Criminal Justice Administration graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 50 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 53%, Criminal Justice Administration graduates have a much lower likelihood (-14%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, 38% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Criminal Justice Administration graduate.
See the details:
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Relevance score: 100% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2011 from University of Phoenix with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice Administration. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONRelief Counselor Edgewood Center for Children and Families Aug 2013 - Apr 2014 Residential Counselor Edgewood Center for Children and Families May 2014 - Aug 2014 Relief Team Lead Edgewood Center for Children and Families Jul 2014 - Present Residential Counselor II Edgewood Center for Children and Families Sep 2014 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGMaster's degreeUniversity of Phoenix 2011 - 2013 ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
When looking at the career paths of individuals with a degree in Criminal Justice Administration, it’s clear that there are a mix of jobs that align closely with the field and others that don't. The most common roles are those related to law enforcement and legal services, like paralegals, correctional officers, and police chiefs. These positions clearly utilize the principles and skills nurtured through their education, making them directly relevant to a Criminal Justice Administration degree. Other roles, like safety supervisors and emergency communications personnel, also apply relevant knowledge even if it isn’t the primary focus, bridging the gap between law enforcement and community safety.
However, a significant chunk of the jobs these graduates have taken on falls outside of the criminal justice sphere, including roles in sales, administrative positions, or entirely unrelated fields like customer service and education. While some of these jobs might require a degree of interpersonal skills or understanding of legal regulations, they don’t use the core criminal justice principles that these individuals studied. Overall, while many graduates do find relevant work within the field, there remains a noticeable number who end up in positions that don’t leverage their specific degree, leading to a mixed bag in terms of career relevance for Criminal Justice Administration graduates.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Criminal Justice Administration graduates:
Looking at the career trajectories of individuals with degrees in Criminal Justice Administration, it's clear that there's a mixed bag of outcomes. Many graduates started off in jobs that are at least somewhat connected to criminal justice, like working as paralegals, security officers, and in court-related roles. Early positions typically seem to be in entry-level roles within law enforcement, legal assistance, or administrative functions that still tie back to the criminal justice system. So, if you're thinking about what kinds of first jobs you might find, think along the lines of administrative roles in law enforcement, security positions, or legal assistants.
However, as we look further down the timeline—five, ten years post-graduation—the picture becomes a little more cloudy. While some individuals have climbed the ladder into leadership roles, like a Chief of Police or directors of various departments, others have settled into positions that aren’t directly related to their degree or even spiraled into entirely different career paths, such as teaching, entrepreneurship, or business management roles. This mix shows that while some graduates do find fulfilling careers in criminal justice, others may struggle to find jobs that align closely with their studies. It’s a good reminder that a degree in criminal justice can lead to a wide array of jobs, but direct relevance to criminal justice administration isn't guaranteed for everyone in the long run.
Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration can be a mixed bag when it comes to difficulty. For the most part, it's not the hardest degree you can choose—some of the core classes are pretty straightforward and can be easier to grasp than in more math- or science-heavy majors. You’ll definitely have to read a fair amount of textbooks and write papers on topics like law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and ethics, but if you have a genuine interest in the subject, it’ll likely be more engaging than exhausting. Just like any degree, it’ll have its challenging moments, especially with certain professors and assignments, but overall, many students find it manageable compared to more rigorous fields like engineering or pre-med.
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice Administration.
When you look at the job history of these Criminal Justice Administration grads, it seems like there’s a real mix of earnings potential across the board. Some of the earlier jobs these graduates held, like a GED Specialist or security officer, typically don’t pay that great, which might indicate they started off on the lower end of the salary scale. However, there are others who went on to secure positions like Chief of Police or Director of Emergency Communications, which usually come with higher salaries. So, in a nutshell, while some might be scraping by in entry-level roles, others are definitely climbing the ladder to more lucrative positions.
Overall, it’s pretty clear that the earning potential varies widely based on the positions they’ve landed. If you look closely, those who have stayed in the profession longer or moved into leadership roles seem to be doing well financially, while fresh grads or those in support roles may not be seeing the same benefits. It’s a classic case of how your choices and career progression can impact your earning power in the criminal justice field!
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice Administration. This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice Administration (ordered by the average relevance score of their Criminal Justice Administration graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:
| College | Score | Count |
|---|---|---|
 University of Phoenix
|
47 | 20 |