Criminal Justice at William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, IL · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with a mid-sized student body of 8,815 in Palatine, IL.

Program Analysis

William Rainey Harper College's Criminal Justice program produces graduates earning $38,474/yr — within striking distance of the $39,484 national average for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 52.7x 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 0% gap from the optimistic case.

At #195 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, William Rainey Harper College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

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

72 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
69
Low End
72
Score
73
High End
Earnings $38,474/yr (-3% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$403K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
52.7x
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)
$7,644
Out-of-state: $23,604

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

What can you do with a Criminal Justice credential from William Rainey Harper College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Other Majors at William Rainey Harper 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 William Rainey Harper College's Criminal Justice program score?
At 72/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Are there apprenticeship options for Criminal Justice?
Beyond William Rainey Harper 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.
Will Criminal Justice graduates from William Rainey Harper College find jobs?
With approximately 480,600 annual openings across mapped careers, Criminal Justice offers a very large employment pool. William Rainey Harper 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 →