Criminal Justice and Corrections at Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, SD · Public · Associate Degree

a smaller institution with 2,164 students in Sioux Falls, SD.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $49,560 put Southeast Technical College's Criminal Justice and Corrections program 26% above the national median of $39,484 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 33.9x 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 0% gap from the optimistic case.

At #207 of 469 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs, Southeast Technical College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

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

71 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
69
Low End
71
Score
73
High End
Earnings $49,560/yr (26% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$50K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple
33.9x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
20 of 20
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition
$15,300
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,537
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

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 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 Southeast Technical College's Criminal Justice and Corrections program score?
This program scores 71/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Criminal Justice and Corrections nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.
Are there apprenticeship options for Criminal Justice and Corrections?
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.
Is there demand for Criminal Justice and Corrections workers?
The career paths mapped to Criminal Justice and Corrections have roughly 480,600 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →