Criminal Justice at Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Conway, SC · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a mid-sized student body of 5,962 in Conway, SC.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $30,840 place Horry-Georgetown Technical College below the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 48.8x 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 29% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $30,840 far exceeding the $12,913 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #284 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Horry-Georgetown Technical College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $30,840 to $42,298 over five years — a 37% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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

66 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
60
Low End
66
Score
68
High End
Earnings $30,840/yr (-22% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$451K
8.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
50.5x
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)
$8,936
Out-of-state: $17,672
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,913
5.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,298
37% 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 Horry-Georgetown Technical 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 Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Explore the Degree Alternative

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Horry-Georgetown Technical College?
At 66/100, 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.
Is Horry-Georgetown Technical College a good choice for Criminal Justice despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Horry-Georgetown Technical College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Criminal Justice program at Horry-Georgetown Technical College?
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 Horry-Georgetown Technical College.
What's the job market like for Criminal Justice from Horry-Georgetown Technical College?
At 480,600 annual openings, Criminal Justice has a very large employment base. Horry-Georgetown Technical 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 →