Criminal Justice and Corrections at CUNY LaGuardia Community College

Long Island City, NY · Public · Associate Degree

enrolling 10,556 students in Long Island City, NY.

Program Analysis

At $25,515 per year, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from CUNY LaGuardia Community College earn below the $39,484 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 40.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 36% task exposure — and the 40% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.

The median debt load of $4,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #409 out of 469 programs, CUNY LaGuardia Community College's financial outcomes for Criminal Justice and Corrections trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $25,515 to $43,643 over five years (71% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.

With 17 registered apprenticeships mapped to Criminal Justice and Corrections, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

59 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
52
Low End
59
Score
61
High End
Earnings $25,515/yr (-35% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$448K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
42.9x
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)
$10,436
Out-of-state: $16,196
Median Debt at Graduation
$4,750
2.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,643
71% growth from Year 1

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 CUNY LaGuardia Community College

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 CUNY LaGuardia Community College's Criminal Justice and Corrections program score?
A score of 59/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but CUNY LaGuardia Community College trails the majority of Criminal Justice and Corrections programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
What's the typical debt for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from CUNY LaGuardia Community College?
At $4,750 in median debt, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from CUNY LaGuardia Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Is CUNY LaGuardia Community College a good choice for Criminal Justice and Corrections despite lower starting pay?
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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Criminal Justice and Corrections?
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.
How could AI change the job market for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates?
Our model shows a 40% gap between best and worst-case decade earnings. AI is unlikely to eliminate Criminal Justice and Corrections careers, but it could reduce positions in some specializations.
Is there demand for Criminal Justice and Corrections workers?
With approximately 480,600 annual openings across mapped careers, Criminal Justice and Corrections offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →