Criminal Justice and Corrections (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Fox Valley Technical College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$64,741

86th percentile

60th percentile in Wisconsin

Median Debt

$22,250

67% above national median

Analysis

Fox Valley Technical College graduates from this criminal justice certificate earn $64,741 within a year—well above the national median of $48,388 and placing this program in the 86th percentile nationally. However, within Wisconsin, where technical colleges consistently produce strong criminal justice outcomes, it lands closer to the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile. Gateway and Waukesha County grads earn roughly $5,000-9,000 more annually, though Fox Valley still outperforms the state median of $60,737.

The bigger concern here is the debt load. At $22,250, students borrow significantly more than both the national median ($13,355) and Wisconsin median ($18,750) for this credential—placing it in the 95th percentile for debt nationally. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 remains manageable, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off loans in under five months of gross income. But parents should ask why this certificate costs nearly $10,000 more than the national typical debt when Gateway produces better-earning graduates at similar or potentially lower borrowing levels.

This program delivers solid earnings compared to national criminal justice certificates, but the premium price tag is harder to justify when comparing it to other Wisconsin technical colleges. If Fox Valley offers specific conveniences—location, scheduling, or specific law enforcement partnerships—the extra debt might be worth it. Otherwise, exploring comparable programs at Gateway or Waukesha County could deliver better earnings with less financial burden.

Where Fox Valley Technical College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Fox Valley Technical College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (16 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton	$4,916	$64,741	—	$22,250	0.34
Gateway Technical CollegeKenosha	$4,853	$73,818	$73,034	$18,750	0.25
Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee	$4,720	$69,115	—	$19,500	0.28
Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville	$4,170	$68,669	—	$19,381	0.28
Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire	$4,724	$60,737	$55,746	$15,335	0.25
Northcentral Technical CollegeWausau	$3,861	$59,645	—	$18,750	0.31
National Median	—	$48,388	—	$13,355	0.28

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 Fox Valley Technical College, approximately 12% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 56 graduates with reported earnings and 55 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.