Associate Degrees in Criminal Justice & Corrections
Education Levels of Criminal Justice Majors
During the most recent year for which data is available, 24,183 people earned their associate degree in criminal justice. This earns it the #4 spot on the list of the most popular associate degree programs in the nation.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in criminal justice at each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 48,312 |
| Associate Degree | 24,183 |
| Basic Certificate | 17,357 |
| Master’s Degree | 6,830 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 5,360 |
| Graduate Certificate | 984 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 276 |
Earnings of Criminal Justice Majors With Associate Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding an associate degree in criminal justice is $33,016. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $29,453 and the high is $38,399.
Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding an associate degree in criminal justice is $8,729. The school you go to and how long it takes you to graduate, among other things, can cause this number to vary. The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $11,226 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $7,301.
Those students who are paying back their debt on a 10-year repayment plan have a median monthly payment of $104.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their associate degree in criminal justice. About 55.4% of graduates with this degree are female.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 10,776 |
| Women | 13,407 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of criminal justice associate degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 722 |
| Black or African American | 3,133 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8,687 |
| White | 9,344 |
| International Students | 142 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 2,155 |
Most Popular Criminal Justice Programs for Associate Degrees
There are 1,114 colleges that offer an associate degree in criminal justice. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
Eastern Gateway Community College tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for criminal justice majors who are seeking their associate degree. Each year, around 40,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 572 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from Eastern Gateway Community College. About 39% of this group were women, and 40% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their associate degree in criminal justice at Eastern Gateway Community College make a median salary of 33,016.
University of Phoenix - Arizona is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in criminal justice. Each year, around 89,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,552 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,215 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 502 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from UOPX - Arizona. About 71% of this group were women, and 46% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that UOPX - Arizona graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $33,016.
Borough of Manhattan Community College is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in criminal justice. Each year, around 22,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 459 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from BMCC. Of these students, 59% were women and 90% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that BMCC graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $33,016.
East Los Angeles College comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 33,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 388 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from East Los Angeles College. About 64% of this group were women, and 96% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. East Los Angeles College criminal justice graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $33,016.
The 5th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their associate degree is South Texas College. Roughly 28,200 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 328 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from South Texas College. Around 98% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 56% were women. Data shows that South Texas College graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $33,016.
Southern New Hampshire University comes in at #7 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 134,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,450 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $19,467 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 295 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from SNHU. Of these students, 55% were women and 36% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that SNHU graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $33,016.
The 8th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their associate degree is El Paso Community College. Roughly 26,000 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 272 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from El Paso Community College. About 55% of this group were women, and 94% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that El Paso Community College graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $33,016.
Ivy Tech Community College is the 9th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in criminal justice. Roughly 63,800 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 267 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from Ivy Tech Community College. Of these students, 58% were women and 23% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their associate degree in criminal justice at Ivy Tech Community College make a median salary of 33,016.
Queensborough Community College comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in criminal justice. Roughly 12,400 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 260 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from QCC. Around 89% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 52% were women. Data shows that QCC graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $33,016.
LaGuardia Community College is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in criminal justice. Each year, around 16,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 235 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from LaGuardia. Around 90% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 52% were women. LaGuardia Community College criminal justice graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $33,016.
Imperial Valley College is the 12th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in criminal justice. Each year, around 7,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 224 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from IVC. Around 97% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 61% were women. Data shows that IVC graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $33,016.
Suffolk County Community College is the 13th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in criminal justice. Roughly 22,500 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 219 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from Suffolk County Community College. Of these students, 43% were women and 49% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their associate degree in criminal justice at Suffolk County Community College make a median salary of 33,016.
The 14th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their associate degree is Bronx Community College. Each year, around 8,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 214 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from BCC. About 55% of this group were women, and 99% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their associate degree in criminal justice at Bronx Community College make a median salary of 33,016.
Bakersfield College comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in criminal justice. Each year, around 24,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 211 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from Bakersfield College. Around 93% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 66% were women. Data shows that Bakersfield College graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $33,016.
Northern Virginia Community College is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in criminal justice. Each year, around 52,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 205 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from Northern Virginia Community College. Of these students, 57% were women and 67% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their associate degree in criminal justice at Northern Virginia Community College make a median salary of 33,016.
Kingsborough Community College comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in criminal justice. Roughly 15,100 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 197 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from KCC. Of these students, 56% were women and 75% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Kingsborough Community College criminal justice graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $33,016.
The 18th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their associate degree is Southwestern College. Each year, around 17,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 190 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from SWC Chula Vista. Around 94% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 61% were women. Southwestern College criminal justice graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $33,016.
The 19th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their associate degree is College of Southern Nevada. Each year, around 29,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 188 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from CSN. Of these students, 55% were women and 67% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their associate degree in criminal justice at College of Southern Nevada make a median salary of 33,016.
The 20th most popular school in the country for criminal justice majors who are seeking their associate degree is Monroe College. Each year, around 6,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,912 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,560 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 186 people received their associate degree in criminal justice from Monroe College. Of these students, 57% were women and 93% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that Monroe College graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $33,016.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to criminal justice that offer associate degrees.
| Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Fire Protection | 3,939 |
| 856 | |
| Homeland Security | 402 |
| Other Homeland Security | 98 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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