Criminal Justice and Corrections at Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus

How worried should you be about a program where graduates earn $36,000 right out of school but less four years later? With Carrington College-Pleasant Hill's criminal justice associate's program, that slight earnings dip deserves context: the numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, making this snapshot potentially unstable. What's more reliable: this program outperforms 60% of California's 131 criminal justice programs, and graduates carry $16,374 in debt—nearly identical to the state median. That 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio means your child could realistically manage these loans on a typical starting salary.

The real question isn't whether these numbers look good—they're solidly middle-of-the-pack—but whether an associate's degree in criminal justice aligns with your child's career goals. Entry-level corrections and security positions often require only a degree check-box and pay modestly regardless of where you went to school. The near-flat earnings trajectory reflects this reality: these aren't careers with dramatic salary growth in the first decade. For a student dead-set on law enforcement or corrections work who wants credentials quickly and affordably, this checks those boxes. But if they're exploring options or hoping for earnings growth, they should know what they're signing up for: stable but modest pay in a field where advancement typically requires additional training or years of service.