Criminal Justice at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Perkinston, MS · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

serving 6,231 students in Perkinston, MS.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,817 place Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College below the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 42.7x 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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $28,817 far exceeding the $9,850 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #334 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $33,464 are relatively flat compared to the $28,817 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

Criminal Justice offers 17 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
59
Low End
63
Score
64
High End
Earnings $28,817/yr (-27% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$343K
3.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
43.4x
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)
$7,900
Out-of-state: $14,500
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,850
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$33,464
16% 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 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community 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 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College?
A score of 63/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College trails the majority of Criminal Justice programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Can you still earn well with Criminal Justice from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College?
Lower starting pay at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Are there apprenticeship options for Criminal Justice?
Yes — 17 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Criminal Justice career paths, including Correction Officer. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
What's the job market like for Criminal Justice from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College?
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 →