Criminal Justice at Carrington College-Mesa

Mesa, AZ · Private for-profit · Certificate · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a smaller student body of 492 in Mesa, AZ.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $30,388/yr fall 23% below the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice's career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

At $8,225 in median debt against $30,388 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #365 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Carrington College-Mesa falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Criminal Justice offers 17 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

61 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
57
Low End
61
Score
63
High End
Earnings $30,388/yr (-23% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$318K
1.0% annual growth
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.

Median Debt at Graduation
$8,225
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings

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

Explore what Criminal Justice graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 469 programs nationwide.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Other Majors at Carrington College-Mesa

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Carrington College-Mesa?
At 61/100, 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.
How affordable is Criminal Justice at Carrington College-Mesa?
At $8,225 in median debt, Criminal Justice graduates from Carrington College-Mesa carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
Why are Criminal Justice earnings lower at Carrington College-Mesa?
Starting salary is one data point. If Carrington College-Mesa's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice graduates?
The DOL recognizes 17 apprenticeship pathways related to Criminal Justice. For students weighing Carrington College-Mesa's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
What's the job market like for Criminal Justice from Carrington College-Mesa?
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 →