Criminal Justice at Northern Essex Community College

Haverhill, MA · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a smaller student body of 3,350 in Haverhill, MA.

Program Analysis

Northern Essex Community College's Criminal Justice program produces graduates earning $39,426/yr — within striking distance of the $39,484 national average for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 43.7x 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 19% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $9,250 in median debt clears fast against $39,426 in annual earnings.

At #217 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Northern Essex Community College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $39,426 to $48,911 over five years — a 24% 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.

70 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
66
Low End
70
Score
72
High End
Earnings $39,426/yr (-0% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$509K
5.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
44.7x
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)
$11,376
Out-of-state: $22,944
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,250
2.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,911
24% 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

Explore what Criminal Justice graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 469 programs nationwide.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northern Essex Community College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northern Essex Community College's Criminal Justice program score?
A score of 70/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Northern Essex Community College's Criminal Justice graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How affordable is Criminal Justice at Northern Essex Community College?
Median debt of just $9,250 against $39,426/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice graduates?
Beyond Northern Essex 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.
Will Criminal Justice graduates from Northern Essex Community College find jobs?
At 480,600 annual openings, Criminal Justice has a very large employment base. Northern Essex Community College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →