Criminal Justice at Delta College

University Center, MI · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

serving 6,061 students in University Center, MI.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $44,637 at Delta College come in 13% above the national median of $39,484 for Criminal Justice programs.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 51.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Criminal Justice programs nationally.

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 2% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $44,637 far exceeding the $8,291 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #164 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Delta College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $47,258 are relatively flat compared to the $44,637 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

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

74 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
71
Low End
74
Score
76
High End
Earnings $44,637/yr (13% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$476K
1.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
51.3x
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)
$9,280
Out-of-state: $15,100
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,291
2.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,258
6% 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

See the full career breakdown for Criminal Justice — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Delta College and 468 other schools.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Other Majors at Delta College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 74/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at Delta College?
At 74/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
What's the typical debt for Criminal Justice graduates from Delta College?
Median debt of just $8,291 against $44,637/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice graduates?
If Delta College'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 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 →