Criminal Justice at Southeast Community College Area

Lincoln, NE · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

enrolling 6,235 students in Lincoln, NE.

Program Analysis

Southeast Community College Area's Criminal Justice graduates start at $28,473/yr, trailing the $39,484 national average by 28%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 66.9x 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 40% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $14,463 represents roughly 6 months of the $28,473 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

Ranked #249 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Southeast Community College Area falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $46,252 show a 62% jump from the $28,473 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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

68 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
60
Low End
68
Score
70
High End
Earnings $28,473/yr (-28% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$500K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
70.6x
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)
$7,080
Out-of-state: $8,520
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,463
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,252
62% 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

What can you do with a Criminal Justice credential from Southeast Community College Area? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Other Majors at Southeast Community College Area

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 68/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at Southeast Community College Area?
At 68/100, the score looks reasonable — but Criminal Justice is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Why are Criminal Justice earnings lower at Southeast Community College Area?
Starting salary is one data point. If Southeast Community College Area's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Criminal Justice program at Southeast Community College Area?
Beyond Southeast Community College Area'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.
What's the AI uncertainty for Criminal Justice careers?
AI sensitivity is moderate-to-notable: a 40% difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes. The base case — our most likely scenario — falls between these extremes.
How many job openings are there for Criminal Justice graduates?
The career paths mapped to Criminal Justice have roughly 480,600 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →