Criminal Justice at San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Private for-profit · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

a smaller institution with 481 students in Fresno, CA.

Program Analysis

San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno's Criminal Justice graduates start at $33,361/yr, trailing the $39,484 national average by 16%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

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 26% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $19,125 represents roughly 7 months of the $33,361 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

Ranked #345 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $33,361 to $44,717 over five years — a 34% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
59
Low End
63
Score
65
High End
Earnings $33,361/yr (-16% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$474K
7.6% annual growth
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.

Median Debt at Graduation
$19,125
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,717
34% 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 San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 63/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno?
A score of 63/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno trails the majority of Criminal Justice programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Why are Criminal Justice earnings lower at San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno?
Starting salary is one data point. If San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Can I learn Criminal Justice through an apprenticeship instead of San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno?
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 San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno.
Is there demand for Criminal Justice workers?
Job availability for Criminal Justice is strong — 480,600 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno graduates specifically, local market conditions in CA may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →