Criminal Justice and Corrections at Delaware Technical Community College-Terry

Delaware Tech-Terry's Criminal Justice program delivers something increasingly rare: genuinely affordable career preparation. With just $7,000 in median debt—half the national average for this degree—graduates enter law enforcement or corrections careers without the financial burden that makes these modestly-paying public service jobs untenable. Starting earnings of $33,737 sit right at Delaware's median for the field and slightly above national benchmarks, while that rock-bottom debt load puts this in the 95th percentile nationally for affordability.

The earnings trajectory shows steady, if modest, growth to $36,646 by year four. Criminal justice careers rarely offer explosive salary growth early on, but they typically provide stability, benefits, and pension opportunities that raw salary figures don't capture. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 means graduates owe less than three months' salary—the kind of manageable obligation that won't derail other financial goals or force career compromises.

For families considering public service careers, this program makes the math work. Your child can pursue work in law enforcement, corrections, or court services without starting their career underwater financially. With 38% of students receiving Pell grants, this institution clearly serves a population that needs affordability, and it delivers on that promise. The combination of reasonable earnings and minimal debt creates a sustainable foundation for a public service career.