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Criminal Justice at Dallas College

Dallas, TX · Public · Certificate · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with 41,815 students enrolled in Dallas, TX.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $35,569 track close to the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 185.1x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Criminal Justice graduates.

At $14,250 in median debt against $35,569 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #104 out of 469 programs, Dallas College's Criminal Justice program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $35,569 to $43,305 shows 22% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

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

81 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
76
Low End
81
Score
83
High End
Earnings $35,569/yr (-10% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$448K
5.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
189.1x
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)
$2,370
Out-of-state: $6,000
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,250
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,305
22% 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 Dallas College and 468 other schools.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

View all 469 schools offering Criminal Justice →

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Santa Rosa Junior College ($111,649) San Bernardino Valley College ($94,285) San Diego Miramar College ($91,647) Monroe Community College ($85,061) Moreno Valley College ($81,339) Gateway Technical College ($73,818) Butte College ($73,170) Red Rocks Community College ($72,583)

Other Majors at Dallas College

Allied Health Professions ($83,557) Nursing ($70,630) Allied Health Professions ($62,647) Electrical Engineering Technology ($59,679) Electrical Engineering Technology ($59,057) Computer Programming ($53,830) Computer Networking ($50,493) Business Administration ($46,874)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Criminal Justice degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Dallas College's Criminal Justice program score?
At 81/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
What makes Dallas College's Criminal Justice program stand out?
The #104 ranking out of 469 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Criminal Justice program at Dallas College?
Beyond Dallas College's classroom route, 17 registered apprenticeships map to Criminal Justice careers — including Correction Officer. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
Is there demand for Criminal Justice workers?
With approximately 480,600 annual openings across mapped careers, Criminal Justice offers a very large employment pool. Dallas College 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 →