Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Lowell, MA · Public · Certificate

University of Massachusetts-Lowell has a 85% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 11,632 students in Lowell, MA.

Program Analysis

At $49,078 per year, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from University of Massachusetts-Lowell earn slightly above the $39,484 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

With a 31.0x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Criminal Justice and Corrections career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

The median debt load of $9,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #215 ranking among 469 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs places University of Massachusetts-Lowell in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

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

70 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
68
Low End
70
Score
72
High End
Earnings $49,078/yr (24% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$49K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
31.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
20 of 20
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$16,570
Out-of-state: $35,396
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
2.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$38,784
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 University of Massachusetts-Lowell

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
A score of 70/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Massachusetts-Lowell's Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How affordable is Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
Median debt of just $9,500 against $49,078/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Can I learn Criminal Justice and Corrections through an apprenticeship instead?
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.
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 →