Criminal Justice at Community College of Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a mid-sized student body of 11,312 in Philadelphia, PA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,224 track close to the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

With a 50.7x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 26% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Criminal Justice career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

At $11,000 in median debt against $34,224 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

A #241 ranking among 469 Criminal Justice programs places Community College of Philadelphia in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 34% earnings increase from $34,224 to $45,761 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

The 17 apprenticeship pathways connected to Criminal Justice reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

69 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
63
Low End
69
Score
70
High End
Earnings $34,224/yr (-13% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$485K
7.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
52.3x
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)
$9,264
Out-of-state: $24,880
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,000
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,761
34% 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

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 Community College of Philadelphia

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 Community College of Philadelphia?
At 69/100, 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.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice graduates?
If Community College of Philadelphia's tuition gives you pause, consider that 17 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
Is there demand for Criminal Justice workers?
The career paths mapped to Criminal Justice have roughly 480,600 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →