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Criminal Justice at Lehigh Carbon Community College

Schnecksville, PA · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

a smaller institution with 4,465 students in Schnecksville, PA.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $33,360/yr fall 16% below the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 45.9x 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 30% gap from the optimistic case.

At $11,000 in median debt against $33,360 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #267 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Lehigh Carbon Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $33,360 to $46,407 over five years — a 39% 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.

67 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
61
Low End
67
Score
69
High End
Earnings $33,360/yr (-16% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$497K
8.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
47.7x
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)
$10,430
Out-of-state: $26,410
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,000
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,407
39% 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

From day-one roles to senior positions, Criminal Justice careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering criminal justice & public safety.

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 Lehigh Carbon Community College

Nursing ($78,322) Practical Nursing ($47,793) Business ($47,276) Veterinary Technology ($37,381) Health Administration ($36,704) Computer Networking ($36,340) Medical Assisting ($35,053) Design and Applied Arts ($27,896)

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

How does Lehigh Carbon Community College's Criminal Justice program score?
This program scores 67/100 — 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.
Why are Criminal Justice earnings lower at Lehigh Carbon Community College?
Lower starting pay at Lehigh Carbon Community 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 Lehigh Carbon Community College?
Beyond Lehigh Carbon Community College's classroom route, 17 registered apprenticeships map to Criminal Justice careers — including Correction Officer. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
Is there demand for Criminal Justice workers?
The very large job market (480,600 annual openings) works in favor of Criminal Justice graduates. The national outlook is driven by public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →