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Criminal Justice at Luzerne County Community College

Nanticoke, PA · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

a compact campus enrolling 3,241 students in Nanticoke, PA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $32,847 place Luzerne County Community College below the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 37.5x 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 32% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Criminal Justice graduates.

With first-year pay of $32,847 far exceeding the $8,068 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #324 out of 469 programs, Luzerne County Community College's financial outcomes for Criminal Justice trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $32,847 to $46,722 shows 42% 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.

64 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
58
Low End
64
Score
66
High End
Earnings $32,847/yr (-17% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$504K
9.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
39.1x
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)
$12,900
Out-of-state: $31,620
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,068
2.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,722
42% 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

Explore what Criminal Justice graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 469 programs nationwide.

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 Luzerne County Community College

Nursing ($76,711) Allied Health Professions ($51,058) Dental Assisting ($41,650) Business ($38,515) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($25,339)

Explore the Degree Alternative

Compare Criminal Justice degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Luzerne County Community College's Criminal Justice program score?
A score of 64/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Luzerne County Community College trails the majority of Criminal Justice programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How affordable is Criminal Justice at Luzerne County Community College?
Median debt of just $8,068 against $32,847/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Is Luzerne County Community College a good choice for Criminal Justice despite lower starting pay?
Lower starting pay at Luzerne County Community College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice graduates?
Beyond Luzerne County 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.
What's the AI uncertainty for Criminal Justice careers?
Our model shows a 32% gap between best and worst-case decade earnings. AI is unlikely to eliminate Criminal Justice careers, but it could reduce positions in some specializations.
Will Criminal Justice graduates from Luzerne County Community College find jobs?
The very large job market (480,600 annual openings) works in favor of Criminal Justice graduates. The national outlook is driven by public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →