Criminal Justice and Corrections at Gateway Technical College

Gateway Technical College's criminal justice program delivers earnings that beat national benchmarks by a significant margin but trail other Wisconsin options. At $38,881 in first-year earnings, graduates earn $5,600 more than the national median for this degree—enough to rank in the 76th percentile nationally. The manageable $13,417 debt load means graduates owe just four months' salary, well below concerning thresholds.

The challenge appears when comparing to in-state alternatives. This program sits at the 40th percentile among Wisconsin's 23 criminal justice programs, with graduates earning about $10,000 less than peers at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College or Rasmussen University-Wisconsin. That gap represents real money over time, though Gateway's 18% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates aren't stuck at entry-level positions.

For families prioritizing affordability and solid outcomes, this program works—the debt burden is light and earnings comfortably exceed national norms. But Wisconsin families with geographic flexibility might question whether a different technical college could deliver $5,000-$10,000 more in annual earnings for similar debt. The decision likely hinges on commuting distance and local job market connections, where Gateway's Kenosha location may offer specific advantages despite the program's middle-of-the-pack state ranking.