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

Median Earnings (1yr)

$30,595

32nd percentile

60th percentile in New Jersey

Median Debt

$9,721

32% below national median

Analysis

Brookdale's Criminal Justice program starts graduates at below-average earnings—$30,595 is notably less than the national median of $33,269—but the trajectory matters here. Within four years, earnings jump 45% to $44,409, which significantly outpaces typical associate's degree outcomes and suggests graduates are successfully moving into better positions or full-time roles rather than staying entry-level.

The state context is particularly relevant: while this program ranks in only the 32nd percentile nationally, it sits in the 60th percentile among New Jersey programs, where the median is just $28,991. That means Brookdale outperforms most in-state competitors at half the typical debt load for this credential. At $9,721, the debt is manageable enough that first-year earnings can cover it in four months—a reasonable burden for an associate's degree that appears to open doors to career advancement.

For families considering this path, the low debt and strong earnings growth make it a relatively safe investment compared to many criminal justice programs. Your child won't earn impressively right out of college, but they'll have minimal financial risk and clear room to grow. Just recognize they'll likely need to stay in New Jersey to see these outcomes materialize.

Where Brookdale Community College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Brookdale Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Brookdale Community College	$30,595	$44,409	+45%
Middlesex College	$32,712	$44,118	+35%
Sussex County Community College	$32,079	$43,234	+35%
Berkeley College-Woodland Park	$29,460	$42,080	+43%
Rowan College at Burlington County	$27,775	$41,568	+50%

Compare to Similar Programs in New Jersey

Criminal Justice and Corrections associates's programs at peer institutions in New Jersey (21 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Brookdale Community CollegeLincroft	$5,921	$30,595	$44,409	$9,721	0.32
Middlesex CollegeEdison	$4,524	$32,712	$44,118	$8,119	0.25
Sussex County Community CollegeNewton	$5,544	$32,079	$43,234	$9,875	0.31
Essex County CollegeNewark	$5,346	$31,908	$34,025	—	—
UCNJ Union College of Union County New JerseyCranford	$5,280	$30,629	$40,980	$11,343	0.37
Berkeley College-Woodland ParkWoodland Park	$28,600	$29,460	$42,080	$16,716	0.57
National Median	—	$33,269	—	$14,230	0.43

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 Brookdale Community College, approximately 23% 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 59 graduates with reported earnings and 79 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.