Criminal Justice at Austin Community College District

Austin, TX · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

serving a student body of 25,969 in Austin, TX.

Program Analysis

At $37,119/yr, Criminal Justice graduates from Austin Community College District land near the $39,484 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

With a 83.9x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 11% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Criminal Justice career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

The median debt load of $12,184 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #145 ranking among 469 Criminal Justice programs places Austin Community College District in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $37,119 to $42,478 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

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

76 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
72
Low End
76
Score
78
High End
Earnings $37,119/yr (-6% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$434K
3.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
85.1x
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)
$5,100
Out-of-state: $21,180
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,184
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,478
14% 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

See the full career breakdown for Criminal Justice — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Austin Community College District and 468 other schools.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Other Majors at Austin Community College District

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Austin Community College District's Criminal Justice program score?
A score of 76/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Austin Community College District's Criminal Justice graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
Can I learn Criminal Justice through an apprenticeship instead of Austin Community College District?
Yes — 17 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Criminal Justice career paths, including Correction Officer. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Austin Community College District.
Is there demand for Criminal Justice workers?
With approximately 480,600 annual openings across mapped careers, Criminal Justice offers a very large employment pool. Austin Community College District graduates enter a market shaped by public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →