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Criminal Justice at Hudson Valley Community College

Troy, NY · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a mid-sized student body of 6,359 in Troy, NY.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $30,093/yr fall 24% below the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

With a 37.4x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 40% 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 $9,609 in median debt against $30,093 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

A #357 ranking among 469 Criminal Justice programs places Hudson Valley Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $30,093-to-$49,768 earnings arc over five years reflects a 65% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

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

62 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
55
Low End
62
Score
64
High End
Earnings $30,093/yr (-24% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$528K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
39.4x
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)
$13,388
Out-of-state: $23,500
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,609
3.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,768
65% 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 Hudson Valley 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

View all 469 schools offering Criminal Justice →

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Santa Rosa Junior College ($111,649) San Bernardino Valley College ($94,285) San Diego Miramar College ($91,647) Monroe Community College ($85,061) Moreno Valley College ($81,339) Gateway Technical College ($73,818) Butte College ($73,170) Red Rocks Community College ($72,583)

Other Majors at Hudson Valley Community College

Nursing ($69,638) Allied Health Professions ($69,242) Allied Health Professions ($58,246) Industrial Production Technology ($56,997) Dental Assisting ($52,151) Electrical Installation ($49,095) HVAC Technology ($47,134) Construction Engineering Technology ($44,162)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Criminal Justice degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 62/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at Hudson Valley Community College?
At 62/100, 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.
Can you still earn well with Criminal Justice from Hudson Valley Community College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Hudson Valley Community College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Are there apprenticeship options for Criminal Justice?
The DOL recognizes 17 apprenticeship pathways related to Criminal Justice. For students weighing Hudson Valley Community College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
How could AI change the job market for Criminal Justice graduates?
AI sensitivity is moderate-to-notable: a 40% difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes. The base case — our most likely scenario — falls between these extremes.
Will Criminal Justice graduates from Hudson Valley Community College find jobs?
At 480,600 annual openings, Criminal Justice has a very large employment base. Hudson Valley 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 →