Criminal Justice and Corrections: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 480 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$93,315 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
58.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
−83%Modeled 10-year ROI
$46,940Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$46,940Median reported earnings · year 4
$44,995Average reported earnings · year 5
$14,250Median federal debt
47thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
480Reporting programs
460With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,070
- Federal debt
- $14,063
- Reporting programs
- 187
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $46,940
- Federal debt
- $14,250
- Reporting programs
- 480
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,228
- Federal debt
- $26,000
- Reporting programs
- 724
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $104,592
- Federal debt
- $20,182
- Reporting programs
- 3
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $64,860
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 119
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $96,102
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $75,547
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $61,271
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$41,540National median$46,94075th percentile$52,827
460 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Prince George's Community College$72,8492Southwestern Illinois College$68,2883Alexandria Technical & Community College$67,0664Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City$66,2875Excelsior University$66,2116Columbia Southern University$66,0007North Hennepin Community College$65,9108Northland Community and Technical College$64,9539Inver Hills Community College$64,62110Grand Rapids Community College$64,550Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1111 · 17 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesSOC 33-1012 · 9 crosswalk linksDetectives and Criminal InvestigatorsSOC 33-3021 · 7 crosswalk linksPolice and Sheriff’s Patrol OfficersSOC 33-3051 · 7 crosswalk linksPrivate Detectives and InvestigatorsSOC 33-9021 · 5 crosswalk linksCorrectional Officers and JailersSOC 33-3012 · 4 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersSOC 33-1011 · 4 crosswalk linksManagers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 3 crosswalk linksEmergency Management DirectorsSOC 11-9161 · 2 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All OtherSOC 33-1099 · 2 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersSOC 33-1091 · 2 crosswalk linksLife, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherSOC 19-4099 · 2 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prince George's Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Largo, MD | $72,849 | Not available | +159% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Southwestern Illinois CollegeAssociate's Degree | Belleville, IL | $68,288 | Not available | +110% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Alexandria Technical & Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Alexandria, MN | $67,066 | $12,000 | +88% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma CityAssociate's Degree | Oklahoma City, OK | $66,287 | $16,375 | +104% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Excelsior UniversityAssociate's Degree | Albany, NY | $66,211 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 6 | Columbia Southern UniversityAssociate's Degree | Orange Beach, AL | $66,000 | $17,078 | +76% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | North Hennepin Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn Park, MN | $65,910 | $30,250 | +83% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Northland Community and Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Thief River Falls, MN | $64,953 | $12,138 | +69% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Inver Hills Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Inver Grove Heights, MN | $64,621 | $23,690 | +73% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Grand Rapids Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Grand Rapids, MI | $64,550 | $12,101 | +82% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Jefferson CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hillsboro, MO | $64,131 | Not available | +83% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Lakeshore Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cleveland, WI | $63,684 | Not available | +71% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Ridgewater CollegeAssociate's Degree | Willmar, MN | $63,210 | Not available | +65% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Fond du Lac Tribal and Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cloquet, MN | $63,056 | $15,665 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Northern Virginia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Annandale, VA | $63,015 | $25,999 | +64% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Hawkeye Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waterloo, IA | $62,551 | $11,000 | +61% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Century CollegeAssociate's Degree | White Bear Lake, MN | $62,166 | $19,366 | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Waukesha County Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pewaukee, WI | $62,093 | $14,125 | +52% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fennimore, WI | $61,297 | $12,750 | +41% | Positive payoff |
| 20 | Northwestern Michigan CollegeAssociate's Degree | Traverse City, MI | $61,003 | Not available | +56% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | Madison Area Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Madison, WI | $60,863 | $13,750 | +34% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | Grayson CollegeAssociate's Degree | Denison, TX | $60,661 | Not available | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | Mount Wachusett Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Gardner, MA | $60,626 | $13,753 | +48% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | Fox Valley Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Appleton, WI | $60,438 | $12,000 | +37% | Positive payoff |
| 25 | Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Eau Claire, WI | $60,431 | $11,739 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Richmond, VA | $60,396 | Not available | +53% | Positive payoff |
| 27 | Washtenaw Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $60,343 | Not available | +59% | Positive payoff |
| 28 | Marion Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Marion, OH | $60,187 | Not available | +45% | Positive payoff |
| 29 | Western Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | La Crosse, WI | $59,884 | $15,494 | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 30 | Diablo Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pleasant Hill, CA | $59,444 | Not available | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 31 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Green Bay, WI | $59,343 | Not available | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 32 | Hill CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hillsboro, TX | $59,294 | Not available | +36% | Positive payoff |
| 33 | Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $59,022 | $30,000 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 34 | Purdue University GlobalAssociate's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $58,840 | $8,416 | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 35 | Riverland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Austin, MN | $58,214 | Not available | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 36 | Morton CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cicero, IL | $58,179 | Not available | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 37 | Angelina CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lufkin, TX | $58,105 | Not available | +24% | Positive payoff |
| 38 | Cape Cod Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | West Barnstable, MA | $58,033 | Not available | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 39 | Middlesex Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bedford, MA | $58,029 | $10,950 | +37% | Positive payoff |
| 40 | Arapahoe Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Littleton, CO | $57,984 | Not available | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 41 | Lake Superior State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Sault Ste Marie, MI | $57,894 | $14,375 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 42 | Bethel UniversityAssociate's Degree | McKenzie, TN | $57,864 | $17,638 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 43 | Central Lakes College-BrainerdAssociate's Degree | Brainerd, MN | $57,688 | Not available | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 44 | Lincoln UniversityAssociate's Degree | Jefferson City, MO | $57,290 | Not available | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Park UniversityAssociate's Degree | Parkville, MO | $57,202 | Not available | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Salt Lake Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $57,197 | $6,334 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 47 | Oakland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Auburn Hills, MI | $56,926 | $13,506 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 48 | De Anza CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cupertino, CA | $56,754 | Not available | +14% | Positive payoff |
| 49 | Allan Hancock CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Maria, CA | $56,608 | Not available | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 50 | Rasmussen University-FloridaAssociate's Degree | Ocala, FL | $56,503 | $24,408 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Rasmussen University-MinnesotaAssociate's Degree | St. Cloud, MN | $56,503 | $24,408 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Rasmussen University-North DakotaAssociate's Degree | Fargo, ND | $56,503 | $24,408 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 53 | Rasmussen University-IllinoisAssociate's Degree | Rockford, IL | $56,503 | $24,408 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Rasmussen University-WisconsinAssociate's Degree | Green Bay, WI | $56,503 | $24,408 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 55 | Rasmussen University-KansasAssociate's Degree | Topeka, KS | $56,503 | $24,408 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Montgomery County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Blue Bell, PA | $56,410 | $13,335 | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 57 | Central Maine Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Auburn, ME | $56,407 | $11,000 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 58 | North Shore Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Danvers, MA | $56,407 | $9,656 | +6% | Positive payoff |
| 59 | Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionAssociate's Degree | Marion, IN | $56,400 | $25,537 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalAssociate's Degree | Marion, IN | $56,400 | $25,537 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Bunker Hill Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Boston, MA | $56,211 | $5,500 | +6% | Positive payoff |
| 62 | Community College of VermontAssociate's Degree | Montpelier, VT | $56,144 | Not available | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Los Medanos CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pittsburg, CA | $55,890 | Not available | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 64 | College of San MateoAssociate's Degree | San Mateo, CA | $55,857 | Not available | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 65 | American Public University SystemAssociate's Degree | Charles Town, WV | $55,726 | $23,486 | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Stanly Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Albemarle, NC | $55,689 | Not available | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 67 | Gavilan CollegeAssociate's Degree | Gilroy, CA | $55,655 | Not available | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 68 | Mott Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Flint, MI | $55,644 | $16,781 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 69 | Schenectady County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Schenectady, NY | $55,533 | Not available | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Portland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Portland, OR | $55,469 | $24,000 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Schoolcraft Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Livonia, MI | $55,436 | $11,868 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 72 | Seminole State College of FloridaAssociate's Degree | Sanford, FL | $55,297 | $12,942 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | James A. Rhodes State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lima, OH | $55,185 | Not available | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Post UniversityAssociate's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $55,105 | $33,638 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Massasoit Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brockton, MA | $54,915 | $10,875 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaAssociate's Degree | Bloomsburg, PA | $54,803 | Not available | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Community College of Baltimore CountyAssociate's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $54,798 | $11,125 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Rowan College at Burlington CountyAssociate's Degree | Mount Laurel, NJ | $54,770 | $10,000 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Roxbury Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Roxbury Crossing, MA | $54,740 | Not available | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | National Park CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hot Springs, AR | $54,626 | Not available | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Minnesota North CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hibbing, MN | $54,578 | Not available | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Ferris State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $54,494 | $18,500 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Rio Hondo CollegeAssociate's Degree | Whittier, CA | $54,395 | Not available | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | Nassau Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Garden City, NY | $54,243 | $10,750 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | College of the CanyonsAssociate's Degree | Santa Clarita, CA | $54,179 | Not available | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Jackson CollegeAssociate's Degree | Jackson, MI | $54,164 | Not available | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Herzing University-BirminghamAssociate's Degree | Birmingham, AL | $54,084 | $18,188 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Herzing University-MinneapolisAssociate's Degree | St. Louis Park, MN | $54,084 | $18,188 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Herzing University-AkronAssociate's Degree | Akron, OH | $54,084 | $18,188 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | Herzing University-MadisonAssociate's Degree | Madison, WI | $54,084 | $18,188 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Herzing University-OrlandoAssociate's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $54,084 | $18,188 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Herzing University-New OrleansAssociate's Degree | Metairie, LA | $54,084 | $18,188 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | Herzing University-KenoshaAssociate's Degree | Kenosha, WI | $54,084 | $18,188 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Herzing University-BrookfieldAssociate's Degree | Brookfield, WI | $54,084 | $18,188 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Delta CollegeAssociate's Degree | University Center, MI | $54,029 | $9,784 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Orange County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Middletown, NY | $53,827 | $14,250 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Liberty UniversityAssociate's Degree | Lynchburg, VA | $53,803 | $28,917 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | Central Ohio Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Newark, OH | $53,708 | Not available | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Columbus State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Columbus, OH | $53,695 | Not available | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | Southern Maine Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | South Portland, ME | $53,650 | $8,750 | -23% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.