What can you do with a Criminalistics and Criminal Science degree?

First, some facts. Of the Criminalistics and Criminal Science 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 56 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Horrible! Overall, with an average relevance score of 30%, Criminalistics and Criminal Science graduates have an exceptionally lower likelihood (-37%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 30%
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, 41% 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 Criminalistics and Criminal Science graduate.

See the details:

View a random Criminalistics and Criminal Science graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 2%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2018 from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Criminalistics and Criminal Science. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Recruiter
Kforce Inc
Oct 2018 - Jun 2020
The role of a recruiter does not require knowledge or skills in criminalistics or criminal science, focusing instead on human resources and recruitment processes.

Life Insurance Agent
Family First Life
Apr 2021 - May 2023
As a life insurance agent, the job primarily entails sales skills and client interactions, which do not utilize the specific knowledge from a criminalistics or criminal science degree.

Market Mentor
MONAT Global
Dec 2018 - Present
The market mentor position at MONAT Global focuses on sales and marketing strategies rather than the core qualifications of criminalistics or criminal science.

Medium and Clear Channel
The Alleycat Show LLC
Jan 2024 - Present
Being a medium and clear channel may require some knowledge of human behavior and communication skills that can be indirectly related to criminal science principles, but it is not substantially relevant to core criminalistics knowledge.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Criminalistics and Criminal Science degree?

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


When analyzing the job histories of individuals who graduated with degrees in Criminalistics and Criminal Science, it's clear that there are a few paths that many of them have taken after earning their degrees. The most notable trend is that some graduates have taken roles directly related to the criminal justice field, such as law enforcement, probation officers, and legal assistant positions. These roles leverage the knowledge and skills taught in their educational programs, making them highly relevant and aligned with their degrees.

However, a significant number of graduates have ended up in jobs that are not related to Criminalistics or Criminal Science. For instance, many have taken on roles in sales, customer service, or administrative positions. Jobs like recruiters, insurance agents, and even administrative assistants seem more focused on general business skills rather than the specialized knowledge of criminalistics. While some roles may involve skills like problem-solving or understanding human behavior—which can have an indirect connection to criminal justice—many do not substantially utilize the degree they hold. This disconnect suggests that, despite the large number of available jobs in the criminal justice field, many graduates find themselves in positions that do not utilize their specific training or knowledge.

In conclusion, while there are certainly opportunities within law enforcement and legal support that align closely with a degree in Criminalistics and Criminal Science, there’s also a wide array of unrelated job sectors that many graduates enter. The mismatch between education and employment highlights a broader issue, where individuals with specialized degrees may need to navigate various career paths that don’t directly apply their core learning. Overall, it creates a landscape where your degree can sometimes feel like it leads to a jack-of-all-trades scenario, rather than a focused career in criminalistics or criminal science.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Criminalistics and Criminal Science graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Criminalistics and Criminal Science graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When looking at the career trajectories of individuals who graduated with degrees in Criminalistics and Criminal Science, there's a noticeable divide based on their specific paths and the roles they ended up in. For many of these graduates, the starting positions tend to revolve around law enforcement, which makes sense given the nature of their studies. A notable example is the individual who graduated from Kaplan University and became a Police Officer shortly after graduating in 2010. This trajectory reflects a strong commitment to public service and law enforcement from the get-go.

However, not every graduate found their way into careers that closely align with criminalistics. A good number of alumni took on jobs in various fields that don't seem related to criminal science at all, like sales, recruiting, or customer service. For instance, the graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee who worked as a recruiter and then transitioned to a life insurance agent and market mentor illustrates a path that significantly strays from criminalistics. After about five years post-graduation, many seem to shift to roles in management or administrative positions, moving further away from their field of study.

The long-term view also raises some concerns, with several graduates moving into roles that appear unrelated to any form of criminalistics or criminal science, like those who became billing specialists or service coordinators in different industries. While some have remained in roles tied to criminal justice, such as parole officers or private investigators, others found themselves in quite distinct career paths entirely, leaving behind the criminal justice system. This suggests that while a degree in Criminalistics can provide a solid foundation, the practical application in the job market can be a bit hit or miss, with some graduates thriving in their relevant fields while others have had to pivot to other careers to find success.

Overall, if you're considering a degree in Criminalistics and Criminal Science, it’s a solid choice if you’re passionate about law enforcement, public service, or related fields. However, it's important to maintain flexibility since many graduates end up in broader roles that aren’t directly connected to their studies after a few years, indicating a mixed bag of experiences and outcomes in the job market.

How hard is a Criminalistics and Criminal Science degree?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Criminalistics and Criminal Science can be pretty challenging, but it really depends on your interests and strengths. If you’re into science and enjoy digging into details, you might find it manageable, since a lot of it involves learning about forensics, evidence analysis, and the legal system, which can be super fascinating. However, there’s definitely a fair amount of reading, writing, and sometimes complex scientific concepts involved, so it’s not a walk in the park. Overall, I'd say it’s around average in difficulty—if you’re passionate about the subject, you’ll probably find it rewarding, but it won’t be completely easy either!

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 Criminalistics and Criminal Science.

Do Criminalistics and Criminal Science graduates tend to make good money?

Looking at the job histories of the graduates, it's clear that income levels vary quite a bit. For example, the Police Officer who graduated from Kaplan University Online in 2010 likely earns a stable and decent salary given their long-term position. However, other individuals, like the one from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, have a mix of short-term positions and transitioning between industries (from recruiting to life insurance), which might indicate fluctuating earnings. Job hops can be fine, but they might not lead to the kind of stable, good income that comes with sticking to a career path for a while.

It’s pretty mixed overall. Some grads have climbed the pay ladder more steadily, like the one from Texas State University, who moved up from internet sales to finance management, which likely brings in decent paychecks now. On the flip side, others have jobs that might not pay as well, like retail or entry-level administrative roles, which can make it harder to save or invest in the future. So, if you're eyeing these fields, it’s wise to note the paths that lead to better-paying roles and stick with options that grow your income over time.

What buzzwords do Criminalistics and Criminal Science 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 Criminalistics and Criminal Science. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Criminalistics and Criminal Science?

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

College Score Count