Criminal Justice and Corrections at College of Southern Idaho

College of Southern Idaho's criminal justice program sits in an interesting position: it trails the national median by about $3,000 annually, but beats the typical Idaho program by over $1,000—landing at the 60th percentile statewide. That state comparison matters more than it might seem, since most criminal justice careers are local and this program costs less to attend than many out-of-state alternatives.

The real story here is trajectory. Graduates start modestly at $30,479 but see 34% earnings growth to $40,750 within four years—solid momentum for an associate's degree that requires relatively little debt. At $11,130 borrowed, you're looking at roughly four months of first-year earnings, manageable for most families. Compare this to the national median debt of $14,230 for similar programs, and the financial risk looks contained.

The caveat: fewer than 30 students in this dataset means these numbers could swing considerably year to year. If your student is Idaho-bound and interested in law enforcement or corrections work, this program offers a low-cost entry point with reasonable debt and improving earning potential. Just don't expect first-year earnings to wow you—the value builds over time as graduates gain experience and move up in their careers.