Criminal Justice at Pima Community College

Tucson, AZ · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

serving 13,869 students in Tucson, AZ.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $42,096 at Pima Community College come in 7% above the national median of $39,484 for Criminal Justice programs.

With a 104.4x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 12% 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 $42,096 far exceeding the $4,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Pima Community College ranks #98 among 469 Criminal Justice programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The limited growth from $42,096 to $49,049 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

The 17 apprenticeship pathways connected to Criminal Justice reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

81 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
77
Low End
81
Score
83
High End
Earnings $42,096/yr (7% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$503K
3.9% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
106.1x
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)
$4,740
Out-of-state: $15,372
Median Debt at Graduation
$4,500
1.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,049
17% 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 Pima 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 Pima Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Pima Community College's Criminal Justice program score?
At 81/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
How affordable is Criminal Justice at Pima Community College?
Median debt of just $4,500 against $42,096/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 1 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Why does Pima Community College rank so high for Criminal Justice?
Among 469 Criminal Justice programs, Pima Community College's #98 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
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 Pima Community College.
Is there demand for Criminal Justice workers?
At 480,600 annual openings, Criminal Justice has a very large employment base. Pima 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 →