Criminal Justice at Polk State College

Winter Haven, FL · Public · Certificate · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a mid-sized student body of 5,954 in Winter Haven, FL.

Program Analysis

At $53,333 per year, Criminal Justice graduates from Polk State College significantly outpace the $39,484 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 165.8x 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 0% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #42 of 469 programs, Polk State College's Criminal Justice program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

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

88 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
84
Low End
88
Score
89
High End
Earnings $53,333/yr (35% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$558K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
165.8x
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)
$3,366
Out-of-state: $12,272

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 Polk State 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 Polk State College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Polk State College's Criminal Justice program score?
A score of 88/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Polk State College's Criminal Justice graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice graduates?
The DOL recognizes 17 apprenticeship pathways related to Criminal Justice. For students weighing Polk State College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
Will Criminal Justice graduates from Polk State 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 →