Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degree) at American International College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,533

Est. from MA median (11 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$22,119

Est. from national median (49 programs)

Analysis

Looking at comparable criminal justice programs in Massachusetts, an associate's degree typically leads to first-year earnings around $37,500—close to the national median but notably trailing the state's community colleges. Several MA community colleges report substantially higher earnings for their graduates, with Bunker Hill at nearly $48,000 and Mass Bay at $45,000. American International's estimated $22,000 in debt is roughly three times what Massachusetts community college students typically carry for the same credential.

That debt difference matters practically. While the 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within manageable territory by national standards, paying off $22,000 on a $37,500 salary feels quite different than the $7,500 median debt at Massachusetts public colleges. With half of American International's students receiving Pell grants, many families here may find more affordable pathways to the same career field at nearby community colleges.

The earnings trajectory for criminal justice associate's degrees tends to be gradual rather than steep, meaning that extra $14,500 in debt will take years to offset. Unless American International offers specific connections to law enforcement agencies or correctional facilities that justify the premium, families should seriously explore Massachusetts community colleges offering this major—they appear to deliver better outcomes at significantly lower cost.

Where American International College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Massachusetts

Criminal Justice and Corrections associates's programs at peer institutions in Massachusetts (20 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
American International CollegeSpringfield	$42,970	$37,533*	—	$22,119*	—
Bunker Hill Community CollegeBoston	$5,520	$47,573*	$50,261	$5,500*	0.12
Massachusetts Bay Community CollegeWellesley Hills	$5,616	$45,144*	$43,689	$6,333*	0.14
Middlesex Community CollegeBedford	$6,048	$41,796*	$43,730	$10,950*	0.26
Quinsigamond Community CollegeWorcester	$5,974	$40,039*	$45,098	$16,250*	0.41
Northern Essex Community CollegeHaverhill	$5,688	$39,426*	$44,559	$7,432*	0.19
National Median	—	$33,269*	—	$14,230*	0.43

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At American International College, approximately 50% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 11 similar programs in MA. Actual outcomes may vary.