Criminal Justice and Corrections at Carrington College-San Jose

Carrington College-San Jose's criminal justice certificate tells two strikingly different stories depending on your frame of reference. Nationally, graduates earning $30,217 land in just the 11th percentile—far below the national median of $48,388 for similar programs. But within California, where criminal justice certificates typically lead to lower earnings, this program sits at the 60th percentile, essentially matching the state median of $29,940. The disconnect exists because California's criminal justice job market, particularly for certificate holders, simply pays less than most other states.

The debt picture compounds the challenge. At $8,045, graduates carry relatively low debt—but even that modest burden becomes concerning at these earnings levels. The 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, yet it's still among the highest in the nation for this credential (90th percentile), and you can see why: when other states' programs produce double the earnings, the same debt load feels entirely different.

Here's the bottom line for California families: if your child is set on criminal justice and staying in-state, this program performs about average. But "average" in California means earnings barely above poverty wages for singles, and dramatically below what community college alternatives can deliver—some California community colleges report criminal justice grads earning $70,000-$110,000. Before committing, understand why those disparities exist and whether your child has access to the career pathways that lead to the higher-earning outcomes, because this certificate alone won't deliver financial security.