Criminal Justice and Corrections at Carrington College-Sacramento

Carrington College-Sacramento's criminal justice program produces earnings about 9% above California's median for these associate degrees, though the small graduating class (under 30 students) means individual circumstances heavily influence these numbers. Graduates earn roughly $36,000—enough to keep debt manageable at $16,374, though that's slightly above the national median for the program.

The challenge here isn't the starting point—it's the flatline trajectory. Earnings actually slip 2% between year one and year four, which is unusual in a field where many graduates work toward better-paying corrections officer positions or law enforcement roles over time. This could reflect the realities of California's competitive public safety job market, or it might be an artifact of the small sample size making a few career paths look like the norm. For context, California's cost of living makes that $35,000 stretch differently than it would elsewhere, even if it ranks at the 60th percentile statewide.

The debt load won't sink anyone—the 0.45 ratio means manageable payments—but parents should recognize this program leads to careers with defined pay scales, not exponential earning potential. If your child is committed to public safety work and views this as a stepping stone (perhaps toward a bachelor's degree or specialized training), the foundation is solid. If they're hoping the associate degree alone will lead to significant income growth, that's not what this data shows.