Criminal Justice and Corrections at Carrington College-Phoenix North

Carrington College-Phoenix North's criminal justice certificate program produces some of the lowest earnings outcomes in Arizona—25% below the state median and placing in just the 11th percentile nationally. While graduates carry relatively modest debt at $8,481, their first-year earnings of $30,388 fall far short of what other Arizona programs deliver. Yavapai College and Pima Community College graduates earn nearly double, suggesting the credential itself isn't the limitation—the pathway matters significantly.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 appears manageable on paper, but context reveals the problem: graduates are earning $18,000 less annually than the typical Arizona certificate-holder in this field. Over a career, that gap compounds into hundreds of thousands in lost income. The fact that Carrington's Mesa and Tucson campuses report identical earnings suggests a system-wide challenge rather than a local market issue.

For families considering this program, the comparison to Arizona's community colleges is sobering. If your child can access programs at Pima or Rio Salado—which offer similar credentials at similar or lower costs—those routes provide substantially better financial returns. This program serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (55%), but delivering below-market earnings to students who need strong outcomes most raises real concerns about value.