Criminal Justice and Corrections at Aims Community College

Aims Community College's criminal justice certificate launches graduates into earnings well above typical outcomes for this credential—about $57,800 in the first year compared to a $48,400 national median. That's real money, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year.

Within Colorado, this program sits in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, trailing community colleges like Red Rocks and Front Range by $10,000-15,000 annually. The $9,062 in typical debt is manageable—you're looking at roughly two months of earnings to pay it off—and notably lower than both state and national medians. Earnings show modest but steady growth to $61,200 by year four, suggesting graduates find stable footing in law enforcement or corrections roles.

The caution here is the sample size. With fewer than 30 graduates in the data, a handful of individual outcomes heavily influence these averages. If your student is seriously considering this path, the stronger track records at Red Rocks or Front Range might justify a slightly longer commute. But if Aims is the local option and your child has a clear interest in criminal justice work, the low debt and solid starting salary make this a reasonable choice—just understand you're working with limited information about typical outcomes.