Criminal Justice at CUNY Kingsborough Community College

Brooklyn, NY · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

enrolling 7,632 students in Brooklyn, NY.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $29,606/yr fall 25% below the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 41.0x 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 31% gap from the optimistic case.

At $7,000 in median debt against $29,606 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #340 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, CUNY Kingsborough Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $29,606 to $41,604 over five years — a 41% 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.

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
57
Low End
63
Score
65
High End
Earnings $29,606/yr (-25% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$447K
8.9% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
42.6x
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)
$10,504
Out-of-state: $16,264
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,000
2.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,604
41% 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

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

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Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 63/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at CUNY Kingsborough Community College?
A score of 63/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but CUNY Kingsborough Community College trails the majority of Criminal Justice programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How affordable is Criminal Justice at CUNY Kingsborough Community College?
Median debt of just $7,000 against $29,606/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Can you still earn well with Criminal Justice from CUNY Kingsborough Community College?
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 CUNY Kingsborough Community College?
If CUNY Kingsborough Community College'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?
The 31% scenario spread reflects genuine uncertainty. Some career paths within Criminal Justice are more exposed than others — the aggregate score blends resistant and vulnerable roles.
What's the job market like for Criminal Justice from CUNY Kingsborough Community College?
The very large job market (480,600 annual openings) works in favor of Criminal Justice graduates. The national outlook is driven by public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →