Criminal Justice and Corrections at Durham Technical Community College

Durham Technical Community College's Criminal Justice certificate delivers above-average outcomes at a reasonable cost. Graduates earn nearly $50,000 in their first year—outperforming both the state median ($47,000) and the national median ($48,388) for similar programs. Among North Carolina's 58 criminal justice certificate programs, Durham Tech ranks in the 60th percentile, trailing only a handful of community colleges like Cape Fear and Gaston but staying competitive with the state's stronger performers.

The debt picture works in this program's favor. At $17,750, graduates carry slightly more debt than the national median but remain right in line with typical North Carolina costs for this credential. More importantly, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 means students borrow roughly one-third of what they'll earn in year one—a manageable burden that most can service comfortably while building a career in law enforcement or corrections.

For families in the Durham area considering criminal justice careers, this program represents solid value. You're getting better-than-average earnings outcomes without the premium debt load that sometimes comes with higher-ranked programs. The credential provides practical entry into stable public sector work, and the relatively low debt means your child won't spend years recovering from the investment.