Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degree) at Berkshire Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,533

Est. from MA median (11 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$7,500

Est. from MA median (11 programs)

Analysis

The numbers here look solid on paper—similar programs across Massachusetts suggest around $37,500 in first-year earnings with median debt under $8,000. That 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio is well below typical trouble zones, and the estimated debt is half the national median for criminal justice associates degrees. For a community college credential, that financial profile makes sense.

The challenge is placement. Top community college criminal justice programs in Massachusetts—those with enough graduates to report actual data—show earnings ranging from $39,000 to nearly $48,000. Berkshire's estimated figure sits below this range, which could reflect the Berkshire County job market more than program quality. Law enforcement and corrections opportunities in rural western Massachusetts simply differ from what's available near Boston. If your child plans to stay local after graduation, understanding Pittsfield's specific career landscape matters more than statewide averages.

The low debt makes this program a reasonable exploration pathway, especially since 36% of Berkshire students receive Pell grants—this is a school accustomed to serving budget-conscious families. Just recognize you're working with educated guesses rather than tracked outcomes for actual Berkshire graduates. Before committing, talk to the program about where recent graduates actually landed jobs and whether those positions require just an associate's or if most students transfer to complete a bachelor's degree.

Where Berkshire Community 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
Berkshire Community CollegePittsfield	$5,612	$37,533*	—	$7,500*	—
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 Berkshire Community College, approximately 36% 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.