Criminal Justice and Corrections at Guilford Technical Community College

Jamestown, NC · Public · Associate Degree

with a mid-sized student body of 8,179 in Jamestown, NC.

Program Analysis

At $34,400/yr, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from Guilford Technical Community College land near the $39,484 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

With a 84.4x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 9% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Criminal Justice and Corrections career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

At $18,500 against $34,400/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.

A #153 ranking among 469 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs places Guilford Technical Community College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $34,400 to $38,914 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

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

75 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
71
Low End
75
Score
76
High End
Earnings $34,400/yr (-13% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$397K
3.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
85.5x
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)
$4,638
Out-of-state: $15,390
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,500
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$38,914
13% 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 Guilford Technical 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

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at Guilford Technical Community College?
At 75/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Can I learn Criminal Justice and Corrections through an apprenticeship instead?
There are 17 registered apprenticeships connected to Criminal Justice and Corrections occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates?
The career paths mapped to Criminal Justice and Corrections have roughly 480,600 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →