Criminal Justice at Montgomery County Community College

Blue Bell, PA · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a mid-sized student body of 7,181 in Blue Bell, PA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $47,990 at Montgomery County Community College come in 22% above the national median of $39,484 for Criminal Justice programs.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 43.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Criminal Justice programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice's career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $47,990 far exceeding the $12,608 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #185 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Montgomery County Community College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $53,757 are relatively flat compared to the $47,990 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

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

73 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
70
Low End
73
Score
75
High End
Earnings $47,990/yr (22% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$547K
2.9% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
43.6x
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)
$12,540
Out-of-state: $32,460
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,608
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,757
12% 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

From day-one roles to senior positions, Criminal Justice careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering criminal justice & public safety.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Other Majors at Montgomery County Community 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 at Montgomery County Community College?
A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Montgomery County Community College's Criminal Justice graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How affordable is Criminal Justice at Montgomery County Community College?
Median debt of just $12,608 against $47,990/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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Criminal Justice?
The DOL recognizes 17 apprenticeship pathways related to Criminal Justice. For students weighing Montgomery County Community College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
How many job openings are there for Criminal Justice graduates?
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 →