Criminal Justice at Inver Hills Community College

Inver Grove Heights, MN · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

a smaller institution with 2,203 students in Inver Grove Heights, MN.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $52,724 put Inver Hills Community College's Criminal Justice program 34% above the national median of $39,484 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

With a 46.9x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 3% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Criminal Justice career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

With first-year pay of $52,724 far exceeding the $17,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #141 ranking among 469 Criminal Justice programs places Inver Hills Community College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $52,724 to $56,206 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

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

76 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
73
Low End
76
Score
77
High End
Earnings $52,724/yr (34% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$567K
1.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
47.2x
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
$12,014
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,000
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,206
7% 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 Inver Hills 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 Inver Hills Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Inver Hills Community College's Criminal Justice program score?
This program scores 76/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Criminal Justice nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.
Are there apprenticeship options for Criminal Justice?
There are 17 registered apprenticeships connected to Criminal Justice occupations, such as Correction Officer and Crime Scene Technician. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Criminal Justice graduates?
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 →