What can you do with a Criminal Justice degree from Florida International University?

First, some facts. Of the Criminal Justice graduates from Florida International University 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 33 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 50%, Criminal Justice graduates from Florida International University have a much lower likelihood (-17%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 50%
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 30% 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 graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Criminal Justice graduate from Florida International University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2013 from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Criminal Justice. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Intern
Miami Beach Police Department
Jan 2013 - Apr 2013
The internship at Miami Beach Police Department is directly relevant to a Criminal Justice degree as it provides practical experience and application of principles taught in the program.

Security Lieutenant
G4S
2013 - 2015
The position of Security Lieutenant at G4S utilizes specific knowledge and skills from Criminal Justice, particularly in security operations, law enforcement protocols, and emergency response.

Certified Police Officer
Law Enforcement Agency/Government
Oct 2015 - Present
As a Certified Police Officer at a Law Enforcement Agency, this job requires comprehensive knowledge and skills from Criminal Justice, making it completely aligned with the Bachelors degree.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Certificate
Miami Police Training Center
2013 - 2014
ABOUT

Dedicated individual seeking a position in Law Enforcement and an opportunity to protect and serve the community.

What jobs can you get with a Criminal Justice degree from Florida International University?

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


From the analyzed LinkedIn profiles of graduates with a Criminal Justice degree from Florida International University, it's clear that there's a wide range of job roles these individuals have taken on. Many graduates have found positions in directly related fields such as law enforcement, legal assistance, and roles within various levels of government. Notable examples include positions like Deputy Sheriff, Police Officer, and Child Protective Investigator, which directly utilize criminal justice principles and practices. On the flip side, there are quite a few graduates employed in roles that do not make use of their degree's skills or knowledge, such as restaurant managers, servers, or internal support roles in non-criminal justice contexts.

Overall, while several graduates have successfully secured positions that are relevant to their Criminal Justice studies, a significant number find themselves in jobs that might not fully leverage their education. Many roles—like customer service, sales, and administrative positions—lack a direct link to the principles of criminal justice. This indicates a mixed bag of outcomes for graduates, where some are thriving in their fields while others are working in jobs that bear little relevance to their studies. It’s a real reminder that having a degree doesn't always guarantee a job in the field of study, and it’s essential for students to be open to various opportunities that may not directly align with their major.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Criminal Justice graduates (this is across all Criminal Justice graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Florida International University):

What kind of career trajectories do Criminal Justice graduates from Florida International University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When looking at the career trajectories of graduates from Florida International University with a degree in Criminal Justice, it's pretty clear that many of them start their professional journeys in positions that are closely tied to the field. A lot of recent graduates land roles like legal assistants, deputy sheriffs, or probation officers right out of college, which shows they're stepping straight into relevant jobs. For those with a few years of experience, you see them advancing into specialized roles such as fraud detection analysts, mental health coordinators, and law enforcement positions. It looks like they’re building strong careers within the justice system or related sectors, which is definitely a positive sign.

Fast forward five to ten years, and it’s interesting to note the mix of paths people take. Some stay in law enforcement, moving up the ladder to roles like police officer or deputy sheriff, while others branch out into related fields such as legal work, compliance, or even education. However, there are also graduates who veer off into completely unrelated jobs, like those who became marketing managers or account executives. Overall, it seems like a solid number of individuals are making meaningful contributions to the criminal justice field, while there’s a smaller subset exploring paths outside the typical Criminal Justice trajectory. All in all, while there are a few twists and turns, many grads from FIU are finding their way into rewarding careers that reflect their education and interests.

How hard is a Criminal Justice degree from Florida International University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at Florida International University is generally considered to be on the easier side compared to some other majors, but that doesn’t mean you can coast through it. You’ll definitely have your fair share of reading, writing papers, and participating in discussions about crime theory, law enforcement practices, and the legal system. It might feel pretty manageable if you enjoy the subject matter, but there are definitely some challenging classes and key concepts you'll need to grasp. Overall, if you stay organized and are genuinely interested in criminal justice, you should find it to be a pretty smooth journey.

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.

Do Criminal Justice graduates from Florida International University tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths of these Florida International University criminal justice grads, it seems like a mixed bag in terms of earning potential. Some of them have landed pretty solid positions, like those in law enforcement or legal roles, which typically pay decent salaries—like Deputy Sheriffs, Special Agents, or even roles like Fraud Operations Manager that can go up over time. Others seem to be starting off in more entry-level positions or have job titles that might not scream 'big bucks,' like various secretarial or assistant roles. It’s clear that some of these paths can lead to a good salary with experience and advancement, while others might not bring in the big money right away. So, overall, it seems like if they’re strategic and climb the ladder, they could end up doing pretty well!

What buzzwords do Criminal Justice 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 (this is across all Criminal Justice graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Florida International University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Criminal Justice?

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

College Score Count
Westfield State University 77 10
University of Central Missouri 70 11
Monroe College 69 13
Bowling Green State University 67 10
American Military University 67 28
Kennesaw State University 64 12
East Carolina University 62 18
Ferris State University 62 16
Liberty University 61 18
San Diego State University 61 17
Temple University 60 16
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 60 10
Michigan State University 59 17
University of Delaware 59 11
Old Dominion University 59 13
California State University-Sacramento 55 22
Georgia State University 54 10
Florida Atlantic University 54 16
University of Phoenix 53 31
San Francisco State University 53 12
Radford University 52 10
John Jay College (CUNY) 52 37
Sam Houston State University 51 42
University of Nevada, Reno 51 10
University of Central Florida 50 27
Florida International University 50 33
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 50 17
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 49 10
University of New Haven 49 17
University of Maryland University College 48 11
The University of Texas at San Antonio 46 17
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 45 12
University of Cincinnati 44 14
Grand Valley State University 43 12
Saint Leo University 43 13
University of North Texas 41 21
Troy University 38 12
Colorado Technical University 33 17
Texas State University 31 13
University of North Florida 28 10
Norwich University 27 13