Criminal Justice at Stark State College

North Canton, OH · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

serving 5,803 students in North Canton, OH.

Program Analysis

Stark State College's Criminal Justice program produces graduates earning $35,014/yr — within striking distance of the $39,484 national average for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 52.1x 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 27% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,982 in median debt clears fast against $35,014 in annual earnings.

Ranked #240 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Stark State College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $35,014 to $47,319 over five years — a 35% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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

69 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
64
Low End
69
Score
71
High End
Earnings $35,014/yr (-11% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$503K
7.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
53.8x
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)
$9,340
Out-of-state: $15,532
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,982
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,319
35% 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 Stark State College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Stark State College's Criminal Justice program score?
A score of 69/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Stark State College trails the majority of Criminal Justice programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Criminal Justice program at Stark State College?
Yes — 17 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Criminal Justice career paths, including Correction Officer. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Stark State College.
How many job openings are there for Criminal Justice graduates?
At 480,600 annual openings, Criminal Justice has a very large employment base. Stark State College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →