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Criminal Justice at UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ

Cranford, NJ · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a mid-sized student body of 7,760 in Cranford, NJ.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $30,629/yr fall 22% below the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

With a 48.3x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 40% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Criminal Justice career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

At $11,861 in median debt against $30,629 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

A #278 ranking among 469 Criminal Justice programs places UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $30,629-to-$51,857 earnings arc over five years reflects a 69% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

The 17 apprenticeship pathways connected to Criminal Justice reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

66 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
58
Low End
66
Score
68
High End
Earnings $30,629/yr (-22% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$538K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
50.9x
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)
$10,560
Out-of-state: $19,000
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,861
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,857
69% 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

Criminal Justice opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

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 UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ

Nursing ($82,581) Practical Nursing ($57,957) Medical Assisting ($48,332) Health Sciences ($41,512) Engineering ($27,813) Business ($27,225) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($25,989) Communication & Media ($21,484)

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

How does UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ's Criminal Justice program score?
At 66/100, 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.
Can you still earn well with Criminal Justice from UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Can I learn Criminal Justice through an apprenticeship instead of UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ?
If UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ'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.
How sensitive is Criminal Justice to AI disruption?
Our model shows a 40% gap between best and worst-case decade earnings. AI is unlikely to eliminate Criminal Justice careers, but it could reduce positions in some specializations.
Will Criminal Justice graduates from UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ find jobs?
At 480,600 annual openings, Criminal Justice has a very large employment base. UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →