Criminal Justice and Corrections at Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus

Carrington College-Pleasant Hill's Criminal Justice certificate sits squarely in the middle of California's competitive landscape, but that context matters significantly here. While graduates earn just $30,217 in their first year—placing this program in the bottom 11th percentile nationally—they're actually performing at the 60th percentile among California programs. The catch? California's median for this certificate ($29,940) trails the national figure ($48,388) by nearly $20,000, meaning this program is average within an underperforming state market.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $8,045, graduates carry less debt than typical California peers, translating to a manageable 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio. For a program serving 50% Pell-eligible students, keeping debt under $10,000 matters. However, those first-year earnings barely exceed $30,000, and the massive gap between California community colleges (where top performers earn $75,000-$111,000) and this program suggests significantly different career outcomes or employer preferences.

The fundamental question is whether this certificate opens doors that justify its cost versus free or near-free community college alternatives. If your child can access one of California's stronger community college criminal justice programs, that's likely the better path. This program works as a fallback option with controlled debt, but temper expectations about earning potential in the field.