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Criminal Justice at Lackawanna College

Scranton, PA · Private nonprofit · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a smaller student body of 1,837 in Scranton, PA.

Program Analysis

At $22,394 per year, Criminal Justice graduates from Lackawanna College earn below the $39,484 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

With a 10.4x 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 $18,500 against $22,394/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.

A #468 ranking among 469 Criminal Justice programs places Lackawanna College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $22,394-to-$36,152 earnings arc over five years reflects a 61% 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.

49 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
44
Low End
49
Score
50
High End
Earnings $22,394/yr (-43% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$393K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
10.9x
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
$35,900
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,500
9.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$36,152
61% 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 Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna College

Allied Health Professions ($65,584) Mining & Petroleum Technology ($63,377) Business Administration ($32,815) Natural Resources ($31,301) Mental Health Services ($26,499) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($13,920)

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Compare Criminal Justice degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Lackawanna College's Criminal Justice program score?
A score of 49/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Criminal Justice. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Can you still earn well with Criminal Justice from Lackawanna College?
Lower starting pay at Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna College?
The DOL recognizes 17 apprenticeship pathways related to Criminal Justice. For students weighing Lackawanna College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
What's the AI uncertainty for Criminal Justice careers?
Our model shows a 40% gap between best and worst-case decade earnings. AI is unlikely to eliminate Criminal Justice careers, but it could reduce positions in some specializations.
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 →