Criminal Justice and Corrections at Southeast Community College Area

Lincoln, NE · Public · Associate Degree

enrolling 6,235 students in Lincoln, NE.

Program Analysis

Southeast Community College Area's Criminal Justice and Corrections 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 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.

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 and Corrections 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 and Corrections 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 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 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 and Corrections at Southeast Community College Area?
At 68/100, the score looks reasonable — but Criminal Justice and Corrections is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Why are Criminal Justice and Corrections 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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Criminal Justice and Corrections?
Yes — 17 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Criminal Justice and Corrections career paths, including Correction Officer. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
What's the AI uncertainty for Criminal Justice and Corrections 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 and Corrections graduates?
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 →