Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degree) at Clackamas Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,992

Est. from OR median (3 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$12,000

Est. from national median (212 programs)

Analysis

At $12,000 in estimated debt—substantially lower than the $24,000 typical for Oregon criminal justice programs—this associate's degree positions students for a manageable financial start. Based on comparable programs in Oregon, graduates can expect around $38,000 in first-year earnings, which lands right at the state median and above the national benchmark of $33,000. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 suggests graduates would need roughly four months of gross income to cover their loans, a reasonable burden for an entry-level credential in law enforcement or corrections.

What's less certain is how this program stacks up against nearby Portland Community College, whose criminal justice graduates report earnings of $45,000—about $7,000 more annually. That gap could reflect differences in local job markets, program focus, or the types of positions graduates pursue. For students committed to staying in the Oregon City area or who value Clackamas's specific approach, the lower estimated debt load helps offset potentially lower earnings.

The practical takeaway: this appears to be a cost-effective path into criminal justice work, with debt that won't dominate early paychecks. However, since both the earnings and debt figures are based on peer programs rather than actual outcomes from Clackamas graduates, families should ask the school directly about job placement rates and whether graduates typically enter corrections, patrol work, or other roles—those career paths can vary significantly in starting pay.

Where Clackamas Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Oregon

Criminal Justice and Corrections associates's programs at peer institutions in Oregon (15 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Clackamas Community CollegeOregon City	$6,210	$37,992*	—	$12,000*	—
Portland Community CollegePortland	$5,040	$45,061*	$38,215	$24,000*	0.53
Central Oregon Community CollegeBend	$4,941	$37,992*	$38,112	—*	—
Chemeketa Community CollegeSalem	$6,210	$33,406*	$42,766	—*	—
National Median	—	$33,269*	—	$14,230*	0.43

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Clackamas Community College, approximately 24% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in OR. Actual outcomes may vary.