What can you do with a Criminal Justice degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania?

First, some facts. Of the Criminal Justice graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania 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 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 60%, Criminal Justice graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania have a lower likelihood (-7%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 60%
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, 40% 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 graduate.

See the details:

View a random Criminal Justice graduate from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and our analysis:


Relevance score: 56%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2010 from West Chester University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Criminal Justice. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Executive Team Leader- Assets Protection
Target
Jan 2013 - Aug 2014
As an Executive Team Leader of Assets Protection at Target, some skills related to security and safety knowledge may be applicable but the core qualifications do not strongly align with criminal justice.

Site Director- Out of School Time
Catholic Social Services
Mar 2016 - 2021
The role of Site Director for Out of School Time at Catholic Social Services directly involves working with youth and community safety, aligning closely with the principles of criminal justice.

Administrative Assistant
Catholic Social Services
2021 - Present
The position of Administrative Assistant at Catholic Social Services does not require any specific skills or knowledge from criminal justice, as it primarily focuses on administrative support tasks.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Criminal Justice degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania?

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


After looking through the jobs that folks from West Chester University of Pennsylvania have gotten with a Criminal Justice degree, it’s clear there’s a mix of positions—some closely tied to the field, and others not so much. The most common roles seem to be in investigations, corrections, and various support roles in social services. Positions such as Investigator at the Chester County Public Defenders and the D.C. Office of Police Complaints stand out because they directly apply the skills and knowledge from criminal justice studies. Likewise, roles like Facility Program Manager at the Delaware Department of Correction and Treatment Specialist at the DSCYF make really good use of a criminal justice background, dealing directly with the justice system and working with youth offenders.

However, many graduates are also landing jobs that aren’t really relevant to criminal justice at all. Positions such as Administrative Assistant, Server, or various project management roles show a distinct lack of connection to criminal justice principles—those seem to be more about general skills like organization and customer service than actual law enforcement or legal knowledge. While there are definitely a good number of relevant roles people are stepping into, it’s a bit of a mixed bag overall, demonstrating that a Criminal Justice degree can lead to both focused careers in the field and general jobs where the connection to criminal justice is pretty thin.

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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania):

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

From what I've seen in this analysis of graduates from West Chester University's Criminal Justice program, it looks like their career trajectories vary quite a bit, especially in the early years after graduation. Many seem to land jobs that are somewhat related to criminal justice right after college, like roles in asset protection, federal business support, or as investigators. However, there's also a noticeable trend of some graduates working in positions that seem less connected to their degree, such as server roles, sales, or administrative jobs. This suggests that while certain individuals may find their footing in criminal justice early on, others might take different paths, especially in their first few jobs after graduating.

As time goes on, particularly five to ten years after graduation, we see a bit more stability in career choices aligning with their degrees. Some graduates have moved into significant roles within correctional systems or law enforcement, while others find themselves in project management positions related to health or research, which, although not traditional for criminal justice majors, still show a level of responsibility. Overall, it looks like many graduates do find solid careers that stem from their education, but there's also a chunk of them who might not stick strictly to criminal justice roles or drift into other industries altogether. It’s a mixed bag, and it really highlights how versatile a degree in Criminal Justice can be, even if that means straying a bit from the initial path.

How hard is a Criminal Justice degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at West Chester University or really anywhere isn’t super easy, but it’s also not the hardest out there. You’ll be diving into a mix of subjects like law, sociology, and psychology, which can be pretty interesting but also requires some serious reading and analytical skills. Most students find the coursework manageable, but if you’re not into writing papers or studying case law, it might feel a bit more challenging. Overall, it’s definitely doable, especially if you stay organized and ask for help when you need it. So, if you're passionate about the subject, it can be a rewarding experience!

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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths of these Criminal Justice graduates from West Chester University, it seems like they’ve had a mixed bag in terms of earning potential. The earlier graduates, like the one from 2010, appear to be in lower-paying administrative roles and social services, which typically don’t pay much, especially early on in their careers. Meanwhile, the 2015 and later graduates have a range of positions that seem to offer better opportunities, especially in corrections and project management, suggesting they might be earning decent money as they gain experience. However, roles like "Server" or "Keyholder" don’t scream high income either, showing that not everyone is hitting the jackpot right away. Overall, while some are likely doing well, others are still working their way up the financial ladder.

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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania). 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