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Criminal Justice at Rockland Community College

Suffern, NY · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

a compact campus enrolling 4,180 students in Suffern, NY.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $29,633 place Rockland Community College below the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

With a 38.5x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 40% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Criminal Justice career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

With first-year pay of $29,633 far exceeding the $8,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #360 ranking among 469 Criminal Justice programs places Rockland Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $29,633-to-$49,504 earnings arc over five years reflects a 67% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

The 17 apprenticeship pathways connected to Criminal Justice reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

62 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
55
Low End
62
Score
64
High End
Earnings $29,633/yr (-25% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$520K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
40.6x
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)
$12,796
Out-of-state: $23,840
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,500
3.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,504
67% 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

See the full career breakdown for Criminal Justice — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Rockland Community College and 468 other schools.

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 Rockland Community College

Nursing ($81,689) Psychology ($38,571) Vehicle Repair Technology ($37,262) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($21,840)

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 Rockland Community College's Criminal Justice program score?
A score of 62/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Rockland 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 Rockland Community College?
Median debt of just $8,500 against $29,633/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 Rockland Community College a good choice for Criminal Justice despite lower starting pay?
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.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Criminal Justice program at Rockland Community College?
Beyond Rockland 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 could AI change the job market for Criminal Justice graduates?
The 40% scenario spread reflects genuine uncertainty. Some career paths within Criminal Justice are more exposed than others — the aggregate score blends resistant and vulnerable roles.
Will Criminal Justice graduates from Rockland Community College find jobs?
With approximately 480,600 annual openings across mapped careers, Criminal Justice offers a very large employment pool. Rockland Community College graduates enter a market shaped by public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →