Est. Earnings (1yr)
$45,853
Est. from OH median (12 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$8,555
Est. from OH median (6 programs)

Analysis

A certificate in criminal justice from Edison State comes with an estimated debt burden of just $8,555โ€”well below both the state median of $8,919 and the national figure of $13,355 for similar programs. That's good news for families worried about accumulating debt, but the earnings picture based on comparable Ohio programs is more complicated.

First-year earnings around $45,800 align almost exactly with the state median for these credentials, yet they trail the strongest programs in Ohio by substantial margins. Owens Community College and Great Oaks Career Campuses, for instance, report outcomes in the low $60,000sโ€”about $15,000 more annually than what peer programs suggest for Edison State. With Ohio hosting 42 programs in this field, the variation is significant enough to warrant investigation into what accounts for the gap. Regional job markets, employer partnerships, and program focus (corrections versus law enforcement, for example) can all influence starting salaries dramatically.

The low debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19 means graduates from similar programs could feasibly pay off their loans quickly, even on modest salaries. But families should recognize they're choosing between a lower-cost credential with middle-of-the-road earning potential and competing programs that might deliver stronger employment outcomes. Since these figures come from peer institutions rather than Edison State's own graduates, talking directly with the school's career services office about local placement rates and which agencies hire their certificate holders would help clarify whether this program delivers competitive value in your specific region.

Where Edison State Community College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (42 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Edison State Community CollegePiqua$4,379$45,853*โ€”$8,555*โ€”
Owens Community CollegePerrysburg$5,750$63,966*โ€”$13,549*0.21
Great Oaks Career CampusesCincinnatiโ€”$60,896*$58,929$16,673*0.27
Butler Technology and Career Development SchoolsMonroeโ€”$53,759*โ€”$8,022*0.15
Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical SchoolsGroveportโ€”$53,090*$55,680$7,874*0.15
North Central State CollegeMansfield$4,624$53,039*โ€”โ€”*โ€”
National Medianโ€”$48,388*โ€”$13,355*0.28
* 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 Edison State Community College, approximately 17% 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 12 similar programs in OH. Actual outcomes may vary.