Criminal Justice at Rochester Community and Technical College

Rochester, MN · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a smaller student body of 3,122 in Rochester, MN.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $50,418 put Rochester Community and Technical College's Criminal Justice program 28% above the national median of $39,484 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

With a 41.5x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% 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 $50,418 far exceeding the $12,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #167 ranking among 469 Criminal Justice programs places Rochester Community and Technical College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $50,418 to $52,390 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.

74 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
71
Low End
74
Score
75
High End
Earnings $50,418/yr (28% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$527K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
41.5x
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
$12,718
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,000
2.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,390
4% 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

From day-one roles to senior positions, Criminal Justice careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering criminal justice & public safety.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Other Majors at Rochester Community and Technical 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 Rochester Community and Technical College's Criminal Justice program score?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Rochester Community and Technical College's Criminal Justice graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How affordable is Criminal Justice at Rochester Community and Technical College?
Median debt of just $12,000 against $50,418/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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Criminal Justice?
Beyond Rochester Community and Technical 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.
Is there demand for Criminal Justice workers?
At 480,600 annual openings, Criminal Justice has a very large employment base. Rochester Community and Technical 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 →