Criminal Justice and Corrections (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Blackhawk Technical College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$68,669

94th percentile

60th percentile in Wisconsin

Median Debt

$19,381

45% above national median

Analysis

Blackhawk Technical College graduates from this criminal justice certificate program earn $68,669 one year out—42% above the national median and well above Wisconsin's median of $60,737. That's a strong outcome for a credential requiring significantly less time and money than a bachelor's degree. The debt load of $19,381 is modest, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.28, meaning graduates earn back their entire debt in roughly three months of work. Nationally, this program ranks in the 94th percentile for earnings while keeping debt at the 10th percentile—an impressive combination.

The caveat here is sample size: fewer than 30 graduates means one exceptional hire can skew the numbers significantly. Within Wisconsin, this program ranks solidly middle-of-the-pack (60th percentile), trailing Gateway and Waukesha County technical colleges by several thousand dollars. Still, outearning 60% of similar programs in your state while maintaining reasonable debt is hardly a poor showing.

For parents weighing this option, the fundamentals look sound—graduates enter the workforce quickly with manageable debt and earnings that substantially exceed what most certificate holders in this field achieve nationally. Just recognize that the small cohort size means your child's experience could vary more than at larger programs.

Where Blackhawk Technical College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Blackhawk Technical College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (16 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville	$4,170	$68,669	—	$19,381	0.28
Gateway Technical CollegeKenosha	$4,853	$73,818	$73,034	$18,750	0.25
Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee	$4,720	$69,115	—	$19,500	0.28
Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton	$4,916	$64,741	—	$22,250	0.34
Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire	$4,724	$60,737	$55,746	$15,335	0.25
Northcentral Technical CollegeWausau	$3,861	$59,645	—	$18,750	0.31
National Median	—	$48,388	—	$13,355	0.28

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 Blackhawk Technical 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.

Sample Size: Based on 22 graduates with reported earnings and 21 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.