Criminal Justice and Corrections at Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Conway, SC · Public · Associate Degree

with a mid-sized student body of 5,962 in Conway, SC.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $30,840 place Horry-Georgetown Technical College below the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice and Corrections — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 48.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Criminal Justice and Corrections programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice and Corrections's career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 29% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $30,840 far exceeding the $12,913 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #284 of 469 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs, Horry-Georgetown Technical College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $30,840 to $42,298 over five years — a 37% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

Criminal Justice and Corrections offers 17 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

66 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
60
Low End
66
Score
68
High End
Earnings $30,840/yr (-22% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$451K
8.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
50.5x
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)
$8,936
Out-of-state: $17,672
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,913
5.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,298
37% 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 Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at Horry-Georgetown Technical College?
At 66/100, the score looks reasonable — but Criminal Justice and Corrections is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Is Horry-Georgetown Technical College a good choice for Criminal Justice and Corrections despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Horry-Georgetown Technical College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates?
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.
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 →