Criminal Justice at Jefferson Community College

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

with a smaller student body of 1,523 in Watertown, NY.

Program Analysis

Jefferson Community College's Criminal Justice program produces graduates earning $34,219/yr — within striking distance of the $39,484 national average for this trade.

With a 38.7x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 26% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Criminal Justice career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,000 in median debt clears fast against $34,219 in annual earnings.

A #301 ranking among 469 Criminal Justice programs places Jefferson Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 33% earnings increase from $34,219 to $45,670 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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

65 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
60
Low End
65
Score
67
High End
Earnings $34,219/yr (-13% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$484K
7.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
40.0x
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
$12,096
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,000
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,670
33% 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson Community College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Jefferson Community College?
A score of 65/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Jefferson Community College trails the majority of Criminal Justice programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Can I learn Criminal Justice through an apprenticeship instead of Jefferson Community College?
The DOL recognizes 17 apprenticeship pathways related to Criminal Justice. For students weighing Jefferson Community College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
Will Criminal Justice graduates from Jefferson Community College find jobs?
At 480,600 annual openings, Criminal Justice has a very large employment base. Jefferson 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 →