Location: Kenosha, WI•In-State Tuition: $4,853•Out-of-State Tuition: $7,046
Median Earnings (1yr)
$73,818
95th percentile
60th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Debt
$18,750
40% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.25 ManageableSample: 95 graduates

Analysis

Gateway Technical College's criminal justice certificate commands premium pricing but delivers premium results—particularly impressive given that most programs in this field struggle with low earnings. At $73,818 in first-year earnings, graduates earn 53% more than the national median and rank in the 95th percentile nationally. The $18,750 debt load is higher than typical for certificates, but with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.25, graduates can comfortably manage repayment while earning solid middle-class wages.

The Wisconsin context reveals why this matters: Gateway ranks at the 60th percentile statewide and outpaces the state median by over $13,000. Looking at the top Wisconsin programs, Gateway performs better than the state median but trails leaders like Waukesha County Technical College by about $5,000 annually. Still, these earnings would typically require a bachelor's degree in this field. The slight earnings dip from year one to year four (-1%) suggests graduates may be entering positions that plateau early, though they're starting from a strong baseline.

For parents weighing certificate programs, this represents a practical path to stable employment without the time and cost commitment of a four-year degree. The debt is manageable, the earnings are substantial for the credential level, and graduates enter a field with clear job opportunities—likely in corrections facilities or law enforcement support roles where Wisconsin's public sector offers competitive compensation.

Where Gateway Technical College Stands

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

Gateway Technical CollegeOther criminal justice and corrections programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Gateway Technical College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Gateway Technical College earns $74k — 95th percentile among criminal justice and corrections certificate programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Gateway Technical College$73,818$73,034-1%
Santa Rosa Junior College$111,649$92,628-17%
Montgomery County Community College$69,937$84,615+21%
Chippewa Valley Technical College$60,737$55,746-8%
Western Technical College$59,276$52,254-12%

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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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Gateway Technical CollegeKenosha$4,853$73,818$73,034$18,7500.25
Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee$4,720$69,115—$19,5000.28
Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville$4,170$68,669—$19,3810.28
Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton$4,916$64,741—$22,2500.34
Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire$4,724$60,737$55,746$15,3350.25
Northcentral Technical CollegeWausau$3,861$59,645—$18,7500.31
National Median—$48,388—$13,3550.28

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 Gateway Technical College, approximately 22% 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 95 graduates with reported earnings and 91 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.