Criminal Justice at Holyoke Community College

Holyoke, MA · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

a compact campus enrolling 3,164 students in Holyoke, MA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,533 track close to the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 47.9x 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 32% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Criminal Justice graduates.

At $5,590 in median debt against $37,533 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #214 out of 469 programs, Holyoke Community College's Criminal Justice offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $37,533 to $53,689 shows 43% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

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

70 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
64
Low End
70
Score
72
High End
Earnings $37,533/yr (-5% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$580K
9.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
49.9x
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)
$11,620
Out-of-state: $21,508
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,590
1.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,689
43% 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 Holyoke 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

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Other Majors at Holyoke Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Holyoke Community College's Criminal Justice program score?
At 70/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
How affordable is Criminal Justice at Holyoke Community College?
Median debt of just $5,590 against $37,533/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?
Yes — 17 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Criminal Justice career paths, including Correction Officer. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Holyoke Community College.
How sensitive is Criminal Justice to AI disruption?
Our model shows a 32% 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?
At 480,600 annual openings, Criminal Justice has a very large employment base. Holyoke Community College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →