Criminal Justice and Corrections: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 43.01. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 3,464 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 828 | 26,289 | $55,215 | $57,702 | $14,622 141 programs |
| Associate's degree | 1,137 | 22,664 | $40,997 | $46,706 | $14,820 232 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 985 | 45,807 | $43,365 | $55,378 | $25,000 627 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 16 | 0 | $63,953 | $99,783 | $17,532 2 programs |
| Master's degree | 358 | 6,537 | $58,044 | $66,714 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 42 | 280 | $84,027 | $86,427 | Data unavailable |
| Professional degree (JD, MD, and similar) | 2 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 96 | 968 | $70,633 | $74,072 | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Undergraduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa Junior College CA · Public · 31 graduates measured | $129,818 | $106,298 | $10,500 |
| Gavilan College CA · Public · 30 graduates measured | $124,058 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| San Diego Miramar College CA · Public · 49 graduates measured | $90,252 | $105,621 | $17,195 |
| Erie Community College NY · Public · 47 graduates measured | $83,582 | $92,087 | $17,500 |
| Columbus State University GA · Public · 41 graduates measured | $81,672 | $65,062 | $11,575 |
| Red Rocks Community College CO · Public · 83 graduates measured | $80,900 | $88,122 | $13,750 |
| Front Range Community College CO · Public · 39 graduates measured | $80,203 | $90,593 | $22,750 |
| Ulster County Community College NY · Public · 18 graduates measured | $78,355 | $77,774 | $12,000 |
| Gateway Technical College WI · Public · 53 graduates measured | $77,328 | $82,828 | $15,429 |
| Washtenaw Community College MI · Public · 19 graduates measured | $76,955 | $79,711 | $15,125 |
| Moreno Valley College CA · Public · 42 graduates measured | $75,315 | $89,812 | $15,062 |
| Rasmussen University-Minnesota MN · Private, for-profit · 18 graduates measured | $73,898 | $79,160 | Data unavailable |
| Palm Beach State College FL · Public · 46 graduates measured | $73,766 | $78,216 | $15,829 |
| Waukesha County Technical College WI · Public · 27 graduates measured | $73,577 | $86,096 | $11,000 |
| Butte College CA · Public · 120 graduates measured | $73,572 | $82,708 | $14,215 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Associate's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Salado College AZ · Public · 31 graduates measured | $83,948 | Data unavailable | $12,863 |
| Frederick Community College MD · Public · 19 graduates measured | $79,351 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Century College MN · Public · 75 graduates measured | $65,879 | $62,166 | $16,500 |
| Bethel University TN · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $65,333 | $57,864 | $21,497 |
| Kellogg Community College MI · Public · 17 graduates measured | $64,984 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Rasmussen University-Florida FL · Private, for-profit · 98 graduates measured | $63,543 | $56,503 | $26,988 |
| Rasmussen University-Minnesota MN · Private, for-profit · 98 graduates measured | $63,543 | $56,503 | $26,988 |
| Rasmussen University-North Dakota ND · Private, for-profit · 98 graduates measured | $63,543 | $56,503 | $26,988 |
| Rasmussen University-Illinois IL · Private, for-profit · 98 graduates measured | $63,543 | $56,503 | $26,988 |
| Rasmussen University-Wisconsin WI · Private, for-profit · 98 graduates measured | $63,543 | $56,503 | $26,988 |
| Rasmussen University-Kansas KS · Private, for-profit · 98 graduates measured | $63,543 | $56,503 | $26,988 |
| North Hennepin Community College MN · Public · 54 graduates measured | $62,497 | $65,910 | $14,821 |
| Seminole State College of Florida FL · Public · 22 graduates measured | $61,982 | $55,297 | Data unavailable |
| Columbia Southern University AL · Private, for-profit · 53 graduates measured | $61,493 | $66,000 | $14,138 |
| Middlesex Community College MA · Public · 17 graduates measured | $61,465 | $58,029 | $7,331 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Institute & University · Private, nonprofit · 144 graduates measured | $142,089 | $128,406 | $22,820 |
| Charter Oak State College CT · Public · 35 graduates measured | $76,129 | Data unavailable | $22,667 |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus NH · Public · 26 graduates measured | $74,618 | $81,768 | Data unavailable |
| University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online NH · Public · 26 graduates measured | $74,618 | $81,768 | Data unavailable |
| Siena Heights University MI · Private, nonprofit · 59 graduates measured | $74,341 | $72,791 | $22,798 |
| Colorado Christian University CO · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $73,004 | $44,849 | $28,846 |
| Herzing University-Birmingham AL · Private, nonprofit · 56 graduates measured | $72,135 | $69,601 | $35,602 |
| Herzing University-Atlanta GA · Private, nonprofit · 56 graduates measured | $72,135 | $69,601 | $35,602 |
| Herzing University-Minneapolis MN · Private, nonprofit · 56 graduates measured | $72,135 | $69,601 | $35,602 |
| Herzing University-Akron OH · Private, nonprofit · 56 graduates measured | $72,135 | $69,601 | $35,602 |
| Herzing University-Madison WI · Private, nonprofit · 56 graduates measured | $72,135 | $69,601 | $35,602 |
| Herzing University-Orlando FL · Private, nonprofit · 56 graduates measured | $72,135 | $69,601 | $35,602 |
| Herzing University-New Orleans LA · Private, nonprofit · 56 graduates measured | $72,135 | $69,601 | $35,602 |
| Herzing University-Kenosha WI · Private, nonprofit · 56 graduates measured | $72,135 | $69,601 | $35,602 |
| Herzing University-Brookfield WI · Private, nonprofit · 56 graduates measured | $72,135 | $69,601 | $35,602 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Louisville KY · Public · 17 graduates measured | $112,084 | $132,191 | $18,080 |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice NY · Public · 30 graduates measured | $58,269 | $74,889 | $16,985 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of San Diego CA · Private, nonprofit · 90 graduates measured | $140,376 | $148,025 | Data unavailable |
| Anna Maria College MA · Private, nonprofit · 73 graduates measured | $118,463 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Curry College MA · Private, nonprofit · 25 graduates measured | $104,342 | $136,583 | Data unavailable |
| Lewis University IL · Private, nonprofit · 46 graduates measured | $103,458 | $84,837 | Data unavailable |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell MA · Public · 129 graduates measured | $90,878 | $109,714 | Data unavailable |
| Texas Christian University TX · Private, nonprofit · 24 graduates measured | $90,196 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Concordia University-Saint Paul MN · Private, nonprofit · 28 graduates measured | $87,966 | $88,914 | Data unavailable |
| Columbus State University GA · Public · 53 graduates measured | $85,412 | $94,267 | Data unavailable |
| National University CA · Private, nonprofit · 33 graduates measured | $79,838 | $65,405 | Data unavailable |
| Saint Elizabeth University NJ · Private, nonprofit · 24 graduates measured | $77,413 | $86,408 | Data unavailable |
| American Public University System WV · Private, for-profit · 135 graduates measured | $76,181 | $89,135 | Data unavailable |
| University of Southern California CA · Private, nonprofit · 58 graduates measured | $76,088 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Faulkner University AL · Private, nonprofit · 68 graduates measured | $73,289 | $69,371 | Data unavailable |
| University of Louisville KY · Public · 34 graduates measured | $72,692 | $107,484 | Data unavailable |
| Salve Regina University RI · Private, nonprofit · 71 graduates measured | $71,920 | $116,495 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Doctoral degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center NY · Public · 16 graduates measured | $95,023 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Capella University MN · Private, for-profit · 29 graduates measured | $78,971 | $96,102 | Data unavailable |
| Walden University MN · Private, for-profit · 83 graduates measured | $73,321 | $85,639 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Graduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell MA · Public · 29 graduates measured | $63,242 | $97,509 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Criminal Justice and Corrections
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency management directors | $93,330 | +3.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Managers, all other | $141,900 | +4.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Compliance officers | $80,730 | +3.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial examiners | $94,160 | +9.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Forensic science technicians | $72,060 | +13.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other | $62,280 | +4.4% | Associate's degree |
| Child, family, and school social workers | $59,550 | +4.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary | $76,590 | +1.5% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| First-line supervisors of correctional officers | $77,970 | -2.5% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of police and detectives | $106,040 | +3.3% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of security workers | $55,940 | +3.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other | $76,400 | +1.9% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Bailiffs | $56,600 | -1.9% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Correctional officers and jailers | $58,940 | -7.4% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Detectives and criminal investigators | $93,790 | +0.2% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Police and sheriff's patrol officers | $76,210 | +3.5% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Transit and railroad police | $90,230 | +3.2% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Private detectives and investigators | $51,220 | +5.5% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators | $43,370 | -1.8% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Security guards | $38,020 | +0.9% | High school diploma or equivalent |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (17)
- 43.0100 Criminal Justice and Corrections, General
- 43.0102 Corrections
- 43.0103 Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
- 43.0104 Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
- 43.0107 Criminal Justice/Police Science
- 43.0109 Security and Loss Prevention Services
- 43.0110 Juvenile Corrections
- 43.0112 Securities Services Administration/Management
- 43.0113 Corrections Administration
- 43.0114 Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing
- 43.0115 Law Enforcement Record-Keeping and Evidence Management
- 43.0119 Critical Incident Response/Special Police Operations
- 43.0120 Protective Services Operations
- 43.0121 Suspension and Debarment Investigation
- 43.0122 Maritime Law Enforcement
- 43.0123 Cultural/Archaelogical Resources Protection
- 43.0199 Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other