Criminal Justice and Corrections at Sacramento City College

Sacramento, CA · Public · Associate Degree

with a mid-sized student body of 16,952 in Sacramento, CA.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $31,146/yr fall 21% below the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice and Corrections. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 201.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Criminal Justice and Corrections programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice and Corrections'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.

At #115 of 469 nationally, this is a top-5% Criminal Justice and Corrections program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $58,913 show a 89% jump from the $31,146 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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

78 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
72
Low End
78
Score
80
High End
Earnings $31,146/yr (-21% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$547K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
212.2x
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)
$2,576
Out-of-state: $25,616
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,913
89% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Criminal Justice and Corrections 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 →

About Criminal Justice and Corrections Careers

Your career in criminal justice often begins on the front lines, where demand is steady. You might start as a security guard, patrolling a corporate campus, monitoring surveillance feeds, and logging daily activity. Many graduates pursue a path as a police or sheriff's patrol officer, where your "office" is a patrol car and your daily tasks involve responding to calls, community engagement, and detailed incident reporting back at the station.

Read the full Criminal Justice and Corrections career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice and Corrections Overview

Criminal Justice and Corrections at Other Schools

Other Majors at Sacramento City College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at Sacramento City College?
At 78/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
What makes Sacramento City College's Criminal Justice and Corrections program stand out?
Ranked #115 of 469 programs nationally, Sacramento City College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Why are Criminal Justice and Corrections earnings lower at Sacramento City College?
Lower starting pay at Sacramento City College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates?
There are 17 registered apprenticeships connected to Criminal Justice and Corrections occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How sensitive is Criminal Justice and Corrections to AI disruption?
Our model shows a 40% gap between best and worst-case decade earnings. AI is unlikely to eliminate Criminal Justice and Corrections careers, but it could reduce positions in some specializations.
Is there demand for Criminal Justice and Corrections workers?
With approximately 480,600 annual openings across mapped careers, Criminal Justice and Corrections offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →