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Criminal Justice at Passaic County Community College

Paterson, NJ · Public · Certificate · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a smaller student body of 4,546 in Paterson, NJ.

Program Analysis

Passaic County Community College's Criminal Justice graduates start at $23,559/yr, trailing the $39,484 national average by 40%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 70.3x 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.

Ranked #297 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Passaic County Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $43,179 show a 83% jump from the $23,559 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.

65 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
57
Low End
65
Score
67
High End
Earnings $23,559/yr (-40% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$413K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
74.1x
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)
$5,580
Out-of-state: $9,690
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,179
83% 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

Criminal Justice opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

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 Passaic County Community College

Business ($35,905) Computer Science ($31,346) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($25,017)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare Criminal Justice degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Passaic County Community College?
This program scores 65/100 — 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.
Can you still earn well with Criminal Justice from Passaic County Community College?
Lower starting pay at Passaic 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 Passaic County Community College?
If Passaic County Community College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 17 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
What's the AI uncertainty for Criminal Justice careers?
Our model shows a 40% gap between best and worst-case decade earnings. AI is unlikely to eliminate Criminal Justice careers, but it could reduce positions in some specializations.
How many job openings are there for Criminal Justice graduates?
Job availability for Criminal Justice is strong — 480,600 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Passaic County Community College graduates specifically, local market conditions in NJ may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →