Criminal Justice and Corrections at SUNY Adirondack

Queensbury, NY · Public · Associate Degree

a smaller institution with 1,959 students in Queensbury, NY.

Program Analysis

SUNY Adirondack's Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates start at $31,344/yr, trailing the $39,484 national average by 21%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

With a 31.6x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 23% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Criminal Justice and Corrections career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $12,000 in median debt clears fast against $31,344 in annual earnings.

A #356 ranking among 469 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs places SUNY Adirondack in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 29% earnings increase from $31,344 to $40,423 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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

62 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
57
Low End
62
Score
63
High End
Earnings $31,344/yr (-21% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$424K
6.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
32.5x
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)
$13,056
Out-of-state: $18,384
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,000
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,423
29% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Criminal Justice and Corrections 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 →

About Criminal Justice and Corrections Careers

Your career in criminal justice often begins on the front lines, where demand is steady. You might start as a security guard, patrolling a corporate campus, monitoring surveillance feeds, and logging daily activity. Many graduates pursue a path as a police or sheriff's patrol officer, where your "office" is a patrol car and your daily tasks involve responding to calls, community engagement, and detailed incident reporting back at the station.

Read the full Criminal Justice and Corrections career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice and Corrections Overview

Criminal Justice and Corrections at Other Schools

Other Majors at SUNY Adirondack

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 SUNY Adirondack's Criminal Justice and Corrections program score?
A score of 62/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but SUNY Adirondack trails the majority of Criminal Justice and Corrections programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Is SUNY Adirondack a good choice for Criminal Justice and Corrections despite lower starting pay?
Lower starting pay at SUNY Adirondack may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Can I learn Criminal Justice and Corrections through an apprenticeship instead?
Yes — 17 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Criminal Justice and Corrections career paths, including Correction Officer. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Is there demand for Criminal Justice and Corrections workers?
With approximately 480,600 annual openings across mapped careers, Criminal Justice and Corrections offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →