Criminal Justice and Corrections (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Front Range Community College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$69,776

95th percentile

60th percentile in Colorado

Median Debt

$24,774

86% above national median

Analysis

Front Range Community College's criminal justice certificate punches well above its weight class nationally—graduates earn $69,776 one year out, ranking in the 95th percentile compared to similar programs across the country. That's $21,000 more than the national median for this credential. However, the debt load of $24,774 is nearly double the national typical for certificate programs in this field, though still manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36.

The state picture reveals why this premium pricing exists. Among Colorado's 14 criminal justice certificate programs, Front Range sits solidly in the middle pack for earnings (60th percentile), trailing only Red Rocks and Colorado Mountain College among community colleges. Colorado's criminal justice job market appears exceptionally strong—even the state median of $56,589 exceeds what 75% of programs nationally deliver. Front Range is leveraging this robust market, though students are paying certificate-level tuition for what appears to be career outcomes that reflect Colorado's overall strength in law enforcement compensation rather than unique program value.

For an anxious parent, the question is straightforward: can your student access one of the higher-earning, lower-debt alternatives like Red Rocks? If not, Front Range still delivers strong absolute earnings that would allow loan payoff within a year of full-time work. The higher debt is a real cost, but you're essentially paying a premium to access Colorado's well-compensated criminal justice sector through a community college pathway.

Where Front Range Community College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Front Range Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Colorado

Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate's programs at peer institutions in Colorado (14 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Front Range Community CollegeWestminster	$4,740	$69,776	—	$24,774	0.36
Red Rocks Community CollegeLakewood	$4,707	$72,583	$69,271	$17,667	0.24
Colorado Mountain CollegeGlenwood Springs	$2,700	$68,129	$57,495	$19,500	0.29
Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand Junction	$9,712	$65,638	—	$11,000	0.17
Aims Community CollegeGreeley	$2,090	$57,841	$61,239	$9,062	0.16
Technical College of the RockiesDelta	—	$56,589	$58,222	$4,750	0.08
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 Front Range Community College, approximately 16% 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 41 graduates with reported earnings and 40 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.