Criminal Justice Schools in North Carolina

21 schools compared · Average earnings $42,096/yr

21 North Carolina schools offer Criminal Justice. Earnings in North Carolina are in line with the national average, so compare programs on commute, tuition, and fit rather than on statewide outcomes alone.

Schools in NC
21
Avg Grad Earnings
$42,096/yr
+7% vs. national avg
Avg Score
81/100
Top NC Cities
3
with programs

Criminal Justice Training in North Carolina: What You Need to Know

Local program supply

North Carolina has 21 schools offering Criminal Justice programs, concentrated in 3 cities including {'city': 'Wilmington', 'city_slug': 'wilmington', 'count': 2, 'avg_earn': 41411.0}, {'city': 'Durham', 'city_slug': 'durham', 'count': 1, 'avg_earn': 49893.0}, {'city': 'Charlotte', 'city_slug': 'charlotte', 'count': 1, 'avg_earn': 44616.0}. Most students attend within 60 miles of home — local choice matters more than national rankings.

Earnings vs. national

Criminal Justice graduates in North Carolina earn approximately $42,096/year on average, which is +7% above the national average for this trade. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

North Carolina-specific licensing

Most skilled trades require a state-issued license or certification before you can work independently. Requirements vary substantially by state. Verify North Carolina-specific licensing through the relevant state board (Department of Labor, Contractors Board, or trade-specific licensing body). Apprenticeship hours often count toward licensure.

How North Carolina compares

Average TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice programs in North Carolina is 81/100. Cost of living, wage levels, and program supply all vary by state — see the school list below ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines earnings, debt, and job-market demand.

Criminal Justice Programs in North Carolina

All 21 North Carolina schools offering Criminal Justice, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click a school to see full earnings projections and program details.

# School Score Earnings ROI
1 Cape Fear Community College
Wilmington, NC
88 $52,282/yr 173.1x
2 Gaston College
Dallas, NC
87 $50,038/yr 156.1x
3 Durham Technical Community College
Durham, NC
88 $49,893/yr 250.2x
4 Forsyth Technical Community College
Winston-Salem, NC
87 $48,388/yr 213.5x
5 Wilson Community College
Wilson, NC
87 $48,304/yr 186.8x
6 South Piedmont Community College
Polkton, NC
87 $47,748/yr 235.1x
7 Mitchell Community College
Statesville, NC
87 $47,001/yr 176.3x
8 Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Salisbury, NC
87 $46,993/yr 268.1x
9 Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, NC
81 $44,616/yr 89.5x
10 Western Piedmont Community College
Morganton, NC
86 $44,397/yr 191.7x
11 Cleveland Community College
Shelby, NC
85 $44,116/yr 171.2x
12 Coastal Carolina Community College
Jacksonville, NC
85 $43,070/yr 200.9x
13 Wilkes Community College
Wilkesboro, NC
84 $41,251/yr 170.6x
14 Wayne Community College
Goldsboro, NC
83 $40,557/yr 159.7x
15 Vance-Granville Community College
Henderson, NC
80 $39,750/yr 107.5x
16 Davidson-Davie Community College
Thomasville, NC
83 $38,392/yr 224.4x
17 Guilford Technical Community College
Jamestown, NC
75 $34,400/yr 82.9x
18 Pitt Community College
Winterville, NC
76 $33,018/yr 102.1x
19 Central Carolina Community College
Sanford, NC
67 $28,734/yr 55.3x
20 Miller-Motte College-Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
61 $30,539/yr
21 Miller-Motte College-Fayetteville
Fayetteville, NC
61 $30,539/yr

Where Criminal Justice Programs Cluster in North Carolina

Cities with the most Criminal Justice programs — useful if you want to minimize commute or relocate within state.

City Schools Avg Earnings
Wilmington, NC 2 $41,411/yr
Durham, NC 1 $49,893/yr
Charlotte, NC 1 $44,616/yr

Compare Criminal Justice in Other States

Considering a nearby state? Here's how North Carolina compares to others with strong Criminal Justice offerings.

← See Criminal Justice programs across all states
Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, and DOL RAPIDS. Methodology & sources →