Criminal Justice at Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee, WI · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a mid-sized student body of 11,362 in Milwaukee, WI.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $38,027/yr, roughly in line with the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

With a 52.0x 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.

With first-year pay of $38,027 far exceeding the $14,871 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #208 ranking among 469 Criminal Justice programs places Milwaukee Area Technical College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 34% earnings increase from $38,027 to $50,823 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.

71 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
66
Low End
71
Score
73
High End
Earnings $38,027/yr (-4% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$538K
7.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
53.7x
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)
$10,034
Out-of-state: $14,420
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,871
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,823
34% 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

See the full career breakdown for Criminal Justice — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Milwaukee Area Technical College and 468 other schools.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Other Majors at Milwaukee Area Technical College

Explore the Degree Alternative

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 71/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at Milwaukee Area Technical College?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Milwaukee Area Technical College's Criminal Justice graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
Are there apprenticeship options for Criminal Justice?
Beyond Milwaukee Area Technical 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.
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 →