Criminal Justice at Jefferson Community and Technical College

Louisville, KY · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

enrolling 7,105 students in Louisville, KY.

Program Analysis

Jefferson Community and Technical College's Criminal Justice graduates start at $33,316/yr, trailing the $39,484 national average by 16%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 49.7x 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 28% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #244 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Jefferson Community and Technical College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $33,316 to $45,434 over five years — a 36% 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.

68 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
62
Low End
68
Score
70
High End
Earnings $33,316/yr (-16% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$484K
8.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
51.4x
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)
$9,412
Out-of-state: $12,484
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,434
36% 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

Explore what Criminal Justice graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 469 programs nationwide.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Other Majors at Jefferson Community and Technical College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Jefferson Community and Technical College's Criminal Justice program score?
This program scores 68/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Criminal Justice programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Is Jefferson Community and Technical College a good choice for Criminal Justice despite lower starting pay?
Lower starting pay at Jefferson Community and Technical College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Can I learn Criminal Justice through an apprenticeship instead of Jefferson Community and Technical College?
If Jefferson Community and Technical 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.
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 →