What can you do with a Criminal Justice and Safety Studies degree?

First, some facts. Of the Criminal Justice and Safety Studies 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 122 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 52%, Criminal Justice and Safety Studies graduates have a much lower likelihood (-15%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 52%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 20% 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 a Bachelors degree is enough for most Criminal Justice and Safety Studies graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Criminal Justice and Safety Studies graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 0%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2016 from Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and Safety Studies. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Missile Technician
US Navy
May 2017 - Jan 2022
The role of Missile Technician does not utilize any skills or knowledge related to Criminal Justice and Safety Studies, as it focuses on military technology and operations.

Loan Officer
Approved Mortgage
Dec 2021 - Apr 2023
The position of Loan Officer does not require any specific knowledge or skills from the Criminal Justice and Safety Studies degree, as it primarily involves financial services and customer relations.

ABOUT

Hi, my name is [NAME REMOVED]!I am a bilingual (English and Spanish), mission-focused operations leader with 4 years of management experience on projects involving the nations largest assets.Indianapolis, Indiana area with a passion for the retail, real estate, and public sectors.I hold a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Public Safety from Indiana University.With my experience building a culture of high-performing teams that provide excellent customer service and deliver on key business targets, coupled with my proven track record of strategic leadership in the U.S. Navy, I capitalize on opportunities to serve above and beyond to ensure organizations achieve all financial, operational, and growth goals.Key Skills: Bilingual: English; Spanish, Leadership and Training, Critical Thinking / Risk Analysis, Sales Process Management, Quality Customer Service, Communication / Organization, Community Relations, Local Vendor Relationships, KPI Targets / Performance Lets Connect!

What jobs can you get with a Criminal Justice and Safety Studies degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


Based on the data collected from LinkedIn profiles of individuals with degrees in Criminal Justice and Safety Studies, it becomes clear that graduates tend to find employment in a variety of fields. The most common types of jobs vary significantly, but notable trends indicate that many graduates enter law enforcement, legal assistance, and jobs related to public safety and security. Positions like police officers, correctional officers, juvenile supervision officers, and roles within the legal system such as paralegals and legal interns are prevalent. These jobs typically require the specific knowledge and skills that one would gain from studying Criminal Justice and Safety Studies, indicating strong relevance.

However, a considerable number of graduates also end up in roles that don’t directly connect to their degree. For instance, many individuals find themselves in positions such as administrative assistants, customer service representatives, or other roles in unrelated fields like sales and marketing. Here, while some transferable skills may apply, the core competencies required for those positions do not align well with the principles taught in a Criminal Justice program. The analysis also shows that while some jobs, like loss prevention specialists or security managers, may tangentially relate to the field, the focus of these roles often leans towards operational tasks rather than criminal justice knowledge. Thus, while a portion of the workforce effectively utilizes their degree, another significant percentage is engaged in roles where their education isn’t maximally applicable.

In conclusion, while the most common and relevant job types for Criminal Justice and Safety Studies graduates are indeed in law enforcement and legal fields, there is a notable divergence where many individuals end up in roles that do not fully leverage their education. This disparity raises interesting questions about the job market and the applicability of a Criminal Justice degree across various career paths, suggesting that while the degree equips graduates with valuable skills, there remains room for improvement in aligning their education with career opportunities that truly value and utilize that expertise.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Criminal Justice and Safety Studies graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Criminal Justice and Safety Studies graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When looking at the career trajectories of graduates with degrees in Criminal Justice and Safety Studies, it’s pretty clear that they tend to start off in roles that are closely related to law enforcement, security, and supportive roles within the justice system. If you look at the profiles, you'll see that many of the recent graduates (like those from 2021 and 2020) have landed positions as Police Officers, Juvenile Supervision Officers, and Detention Officers almost right after graduation. This trend really shows that a solid number of graduates are beginning their careers in direct service roles, indicating that the coursework and skills they've gained in their programs are aligning well with immediate employment opportunities in the field.

However, when you zoom out a bit and look at where these individuals are landing a few years down the line, there's a mixed bag. Some graduates who started in law enforcement continue pursuing roles within that sphere, while others veer off into positions that are tangentially related or completely unrelated to criminal justice. For example, you have people moving into project management, marketing, and even logistics roles at various companies. This suggests that while the Criminal Justice degree is useful for certain paths, it might not always lock graduates into a long-term career within the discipline. Some people seem to be exploring alternate fields, possibly due to job availability, personal interest, or even the need for financial stability. Overall, while many graduates do find relevant job opportunities at first, the long-term career paths can diverge significantly, leading to a variety of roles—some more related to their education than others.

How hard is a Criminal Justice and Safety Studies degree?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Safety Studies is generally considered to be on the easier side compared to some other majors, especially if you're someone who enjoys the subject matter like law enforcement, crime prevention, and emergency management. The coursework often includes a mix of theory and practical applications, so if you put in the effort and are interested in the topics, it can feel pretty manageable. Of course, every degree has its challenges—like any research paper or group project—but overall, you might find it less intense than something like engineering or physics. So, if you're curious about crime and safety, don't stress too much; it can be a fun journey if you're passionate about it!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice and Safety Studies.

Do Criminal Justice and Safety Studies graduates tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths of these Criminal Justice and Safety Studies graduates, it seems like there’s a mixed bag when it comes to their income potential. Some have landed solid positions right after school, like police officers and various management roles, which generally offer decent pay. For instance, police officers and detectives can earn a good salary, especially if they have years of experience. However, others started with lower-paying jobs or internships in fields like support roles or administration, which might indicate they’ve faced some struggles in their early career stages.

Overall, while many graduates may not be rolling in cash right out of school, several of them are gravitating toward roles that could set them up for better financial stability down the line. Positions like project managers, compliance coordinators, and law enforcement roles tend to pay more as they gain experience. So, while it may not look like everyone is making big bucks now, the trajectory for many of these folks has the potential to lead to a more profitable future.

What buzzwords do Criminal Justice and Safety Studies graduates use to describe themselves?

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 and Safety Studies. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Criminal Justice and Safety Studies?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice and Safety Studies (ordered by the average relevance score of their Criminal Justice and Safety Studies graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count