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Criminal Justice at Erie Community College

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

with a mid-sized student body of 5,906 in Buffalo, NY.

Program Analysis

Erie Community College's Criminal Justice graduates start at $33,340/yr, trailing the $39,484 national average by 16%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 38.5x 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 28% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $6,862 in median debt clears fast against $33,340 in annual earnings.

Ranked #299 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Erie Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $33,340 to $45,590 over five years — a 37% 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.

65 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
59
Low End
65
Score
67
High End
Earnings $33,340/yr (-16% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$486K
8.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
39.8x
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)
$12,200
Out-of-state: $22,600
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,862
2.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,590
37% 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

What can you do with a Criminal Justice credential from Erie Community College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

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 Erie Community College

Nursing ($69,885) Allied Health Professions ($58,695) Dental Assisting ($51,215) Construction Management Technology ($44,535) Vehicle Repair Technology ($43,237) Electrical Repair Technology ($39,218) Computer Science ($35,253) Health Administration ($34,484)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare Criminal Justice degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Erie Community College?
A score of 65/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Erie Community College trails the majority of Criminal Justice programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
What's the typical debt for Criminal Justice graduates from Erie Community College?
At $6,862 in median debt, Criminal Justice graduates from Erie Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Why are Criminal Justice earnings lower at Erie Community College?
Lower starting pay at Erie Community College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Are there apprenticeship options for Criminal Justice?
Beyond Erie Community 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.
How many job openings are there for Criminal Justice graduates?
At 480,600 annual openings, Criminal Justice has a very large employment base. Erie Community College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →