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Criminal Justice at Brookdale Community College

Lincroft, NJ · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a mid-sized student body of 7,898 in Lincroft, NJ.

Program Analysis

Brookdale Community College's Criminal Justice graduates start at $30,595/yr, trailing the $39,484 national average by 23%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 43.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 36% task exposure — and the 40% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Criminal Justice graduates.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $11,500 in median debt clears fast against $30,595 in annual earnings.

At #319 out of 469 programs, Brookdale Community College's financial outcomes for Criminal Justice trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $30,595 to $51,052 over five years (67% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.

With 17 registered apprenticeships mapped to Criminal Justice, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

64 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
57
Low End
64
Score
66
High End
Earnings $30,595/yr (-23% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$537K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
45.3x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
20 of 20
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$11,842
Out-of-state: $19,612
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,500
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,052
67% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Criminal Justice graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Managers, all other $136,550 +4.5% 53%
First-line supervisors of police and detectives $105,980 +2.9% 67%
Detectives and criminal investigators $93,580 -0.7% 47%
Managers, all other
$136,550
+4.5% growth 53% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of police and detectives
$105,980
+2.9% growth 67% AI-proof
Detectives and criminal investigators
$93,580
-0.7% growth 47% AI-proof

View all 20 career paths with full salary data →

Criminal Justice Career Guide

What can you do with a Criminal Justice credential from Brookdale Community College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

View all 469 schools offering Criminal Justice →

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Santa Rosa Junior College ($111,649) San Bernardino Valley College ($94,285) San Diego Miramar College ($91,647) Monroe Community College ($85,061) Moreno Valley College ($81,339) Gateway Technical College ($73,818) Butte College ($73,170) Red Rocks Community College ($72,583)

Other Majors at Brookdale Community College

Nursing ($80,574) Allied Health Professions ($65,905) IT Management ($40,282) Mechanical Engineering Technology ($35,805) Business Administration ($33,473) Computer Science ($31,827) Social Sciences ($26,231) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($20,077)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare Criminal Justice degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Brookdale Community College's Criminal Justice program score?
At 64/100, the score looks reasonable — but Criminal Justice is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Why are Criminal Justice earnings lower at Brookdale Community College?
Lower starting pay at Brookdale Community College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Criminal Justice program at Brookdale Community College?
Beyond Brookdale Community College's classroom route, 17 registered apprenticeships map to Criminal Justice careers — including Correction Officer. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
How could AI change the job market for Criminal Justice graduates?
Our model shows a 40% gap between best and worst-case decade earnings. AI is unlikely to eliminate Criminal Justice careers, but it could reduce positions in some specializations.
How many job openings are there for Criminal Justice graduates?
The very large job market (480,600 annual openings) works in favor of Criminal Justice graduates. The national outlook is driven by public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →