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Criminal Justice at Niagara County Community College

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

a compact campus enrolling 2,859 students in Sanborn, NY.

Program Analysis

At $27,970 per year, Criminal Justice graduates from Niagara County Community College earn below the $39,484 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 34.6x 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 40% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $11,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #394 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Niagara County Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $53,930 show a 93% jump from the $27,970 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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

60 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
53
Low End
60
Score
62
High End
Earnings $27,970/yr (-29% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$491K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
36.5x
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)
$13,452
Out-of-state: $23,724
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,000
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,930
93% 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 Niagara County 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

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 Niagara County Community College

Nursing ($72,260) Allied Health Professions ($52,564) Accounting ($39,761) Medical Assisting ($36,053) Agricultural Production Operations ($33,131) Business Administration ($31,212) Chemistry ($29,339) Community Organization ($27,091)

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

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Niagara County Community College?
At 60/100, the score looks reasonable — but Criminal Justice is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Can you still earn well with Criminal Justice from Niagara County Community College?
Lower starting pay at Niagara County Community College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Criminal Justice program at Niagara County Community College?
Beyond Niagara County 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.
How could AI change the job market for Criminal Justice graduates?
AI sensitivity is moderate-to-notable: a 40% difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes. The base case — our most likely scenario — falls between these extremes.
Will Criminal Justice graduates from Niagara County Community College find jobs?
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 →