Criminal Justice at Pueblo Community College

Pueblo, CO · Public · Certificate · Criminal Justice and Corrections

a compact campus enrolling 3,293 students in Pueblo, CO.

Program Analysis

Pueblo Community College Criminal Justice graduates command $52,241/yr out of the gate, well above the $39,484 national median. That 32% premium suggests the program's industry reputation carries real labor-market weight.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 122.4x 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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $5,344 in median debt clears fast against $52,241 in annual earnings.

At #66 of 469 nationally, this is a top-5% Criminal Justice program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $59,359 are relatively flat compared to the $52,241 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

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

86 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
82
Low End
86
Score
87
High End
Earnings $52,241/yr (32% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$606K
3.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
124.0x
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)
$4,883
Out-of-state: $17,116
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,344
1.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,359
14% 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 Pueblo 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

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Pueblo Community College?
At 86/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
What's the typical debt for Criminal Justice graduates from Pueblo Community College?
Median debt of just $5,344 against $52,241/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.
Is Pueblo Community College one of the best schools for Criminal Justice?
Ranked #66 of 469 programs nationally, Pueblo Community College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Criminal Justice program at Pueblo Community College?
There are 17 registered apprenticeships connected to Criminal Justice occupations, such as Correction Officer and Crime Scene Technician. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Criminal Justice graduates?
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 →