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Criminal Justice at Southern Maine Community College

South Portland, ME · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a mid-sized student body of 5,279 in South Portland, ME.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $44,869/yr, edging above the $39,484 national average for Criminal Justice — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 70.2x 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 13% gap from the optimistic case.

At $9,414 in median debt against $44,869 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #118 of 469 nationally, this is a top-5% Criminal Justice program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $52,803 are relatively flat compared to the $44,869 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

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

78 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
74
Low End
78
Score
80
High End
Earnings $44,869/yr (14% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$543K
4.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
71.4x
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)
$7,594
Out-of-state: $13,354
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,414
2.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,803
18% 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

View all 469 schools offering Criminal Justice →

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Santa Rosa Junior College ($111,649) San Bernardino Valley College ($94,285) San Diego Miramar College ($91,647) Monroe Community College ($85,061) Moreno Valley College ($81,339) Gateway Technical College ($73,818) Butte College ($73,170) Red Rocks Community College ($72,583)

Other Majors at Southern Maine Community College

Nursing ($67,850) Allied Health Professions ($64,549) Electrical Installation ($47,382) Drafting & Design Technology ($45,319) Electrical Engineering Technology ($43,181) IT Management ($41,813) Medical Assisting ($40,964) Health Sciences ($39,347)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Criminal Justice degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Southern Maine Community 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.
How affordable is Criminal Justice at Southern Maine Community College?
At $9,414 in median debt, Criminal Justice graduates from Southern Maine Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Why does Southern Maine Community College rank so high for Criminal Justice?
Ranked #118 of 469 programs nationally, Southern Maine Community College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice graduates?
If Southern Maine Community College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 17 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
What's the job market like for Criminal Justice from Southern Maine Community College?
Job availability for Criminal Justice is strong — 480,600 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Southern Maine Community College graduates specifically, local market conditions in ME may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →