Criminal Justice at SOWELA Technical Community College
with a smaller student body of 2,979 in Lake Charles, LA.
Program Analysis
At $23,832 per year, Criminal Justice graduates from SOWELA Technical Community College earn below the $39,484 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 36.4x 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 22% gap from the optimistic case.
Ranked #414 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, SOWELA Technical Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $23,832 to $30,490 over five years — a 28% 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.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
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% |
Criminal Justice Career Guide
Explore what Criminal Justice graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 469 programs nationwide.
Compare & Explore
Criminal Justice Overview
Criminal Justice at Other Schools
Other Majors at SOWELA Technical Community College
How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?
Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.