Criminal Justice and Corrections (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$46,997

Est. from NC median (14 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$17,280

Est. from NC median (10 programs)

Analysis

Similar criminal justice certificate programs in North Carolina typically produce first-year earnings around $47,000, which puts graduates in a reasonable position given the estimated $17,280 debt load. The 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment—roughly four months of gross income to cover total borrowing. However, North Carolina's median debt for these programs runs about $4,000 higher than the national figure, meaning students here are borrowing more for comparable outcomes.

What's worth noting is that several North Carolina community colleges with reported data show graduates earning slightly more—Cape Fear's $52,000 and Gaston's $50,000 suggest there may be regional variation in criminal justice opportunities. The estimated $47,000 also sits below the national median of $48,388, though not dramatically. For a certificate program meant to provide quick workforce entry, these numbers aren't alarming, but they do indicate a credential that leads to modest-paying positions rather than high-earning careers.

The practical reality: this certificate appears designed as a stepping stone into law enforcement or corrections work, where starting salaries are generally constrained by government pay scales. If your child needs credentials fast and wants public safety work, the debt burden seems reasonable. Just recognize that peer programs across the state show some variation in outcomes, and this particular program's performance remains uncertain without its own reported data.

Where Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (58 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Caldwell Community College and Technical InstituteHudson	$2,537	$46,997*	—	$17,280*	—
Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington	$2,748	$52,282*	$42,740	$16,042*	0.31
Gaston CollegeDallas	$3,186	$50,038*	—	—*	—
Durham Technical Community CollegeDurham	$1,986	$49,893*	—	$17,750*	0.36
Forsyth Technical Community CollegeWinston-Salem	$2,256	$48,388*	—	$21,066*	0.44
Wilson Community CollegeWilson	$2,572	$48,304*	—	$17,060*	0.35
National Median	—	$48,388*	—	$13,355*	0.28

* 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 Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, approximately 29% 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 14 similar programs in NC. Actual outcomes may vary.