Criminal Justice and Corrections at Daytona State College

Daytona State College's criminal justice certificate starts strong but loses momentum quickly. Graduates earn $52,755 in their first year—beating both the national and Florida medians by several thousand dollars. However, four years later, earnings drop to $49,543, a concerning 6% decline when most careers should be gaining traction. This suggests graduates may be hitting their ceiling early or struggling to advance beyond entry-level positions.

The debt picture provides some relief: at just $8,169, it's substantially lower than both the national median ($13,355) and even the Florida average ($9,563). With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.15, graduates can realistically pay this off within months rather than years. Still, the earnings trajectory remains troubling—while you're not saddling your child with crushing debt, you're also not setting them up for significant career growth.

Context matters here. Among Florida's 40 criminal justice programs, Daytona State sits squarely in the middle, while schools like Palm Beach State and Hillsborough Community College produce graduates earning $15,000-$20,000 more annually. If your child is committed to this field, this certificate offers a low-risk entry point. Just recognize it's likely opening doors to jobs with limited upward mobility rather than launching a career with steady progression.