Criminal Justice at Hillsborough Community College

Tampa, FL · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a mid-sized student body of 19,998 in Tampa, FL.

Program Analysis

At $33,013 per year, Criminal Justice graduates from Hillsborough Community College earn below the $39,484 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 89.0x 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 25% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Criminal Justice graduates.

The median debt load of $12,586 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #149 out of 469 programs, Hillsborough Community College's Criminal Justice offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $33,013 to $43,586 shows 32% 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.

75 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
69
Low End
75
Score
76
High End
Earnings $33,013/yr (-16% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$460K
7.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
91.8x
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)
$5,012
Out-of-state: $18,222
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,586
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,586
32% 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

Other Majors at Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough Community College's Criminal Justice program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Hillsborough Community College's Criminal Justice graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
Can you still earn well with Criminal Justice from Hillsborough 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.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice graduates?
Beyond Hillsborough 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?
The career paths mapped to Criminal Justice have roughly 480,600 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →