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Criminal Justice at Houston Community College

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

one of the larger campuses at 37,970 students in Houston, TX.

Program Analysis

Graduates of Houston Community College's Criminal Justice program earn $56,454/yr in their first year — 43% above the $39,484 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The 289.5x 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 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Criminal Justice graduates.

At $9,500 in median debt against $56,454 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

A #27 ranking out of 469 Criminal Justice programs nationally puts Houston Community College in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth is modest: $56,454 to $56,987 over five years (1% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

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

90 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
85
Low End
90
Score
91
High End
Earnings $56,454/yr (43% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$591K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
289.5x
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)
$2,040
Out-of-state: $5,460
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
2.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,987
1% 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 Houston 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 Houston Community College

Allied Health Professions ($67,098) Nursing ($66,743) Allied Health Professions ($64,648) Engineering Science ($61,518) Physical Science Technology ($60,612) Dental Assisting ($56,005) Clinical Laboratory Science ($48,172) Mining & Petroleum Technology ($47,146)

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 Houston Community College's Criminal Justice program score?
A score of 90/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Houston Community College's Criminal Justice graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
What's the typical debt for Criminal Justice graduates from Houston Community College?
Median debt of just $9,500 against $56,454/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Can I learn Criminal Justice through an apprenticeship instead of Houston Community College?
The DOL recognizes 17 apprenticeship pathways related to Criminal Justice. For students weighing Houston Community College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
Will Criminal Justice graduates from Houston Community College find jobs?
Job availability for Criminal Justice is strong — 480,600 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Houston Community College graduates specifically, local market conditions in TX may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →