Criminal Justice and Corrections at Great Oaks Career Campuses

Great Oaks graduates enter the workforce strong, earning over $60,000 in their first year—landing them in the 80th percentile among Ohio's 42 criminal justice certificate programs. That's roughly $15,000 above the state median and substantially higher than the national benchmark. The debt load of $16,673 is manageable, translating to just 27 cents of debt for every dollar earned in year one. Among comparable programs nationwide, this ranks in the lower third for debt burden, which is exactly where you want to be.

The challenge appears in the trajectory: earnings dip to $58,929 by year four, a modest 3% decline that suggests graduates may be hitting a ceiling in entry-level corrections or law enforcement roles. Still, even at that level, they're outearning most Ohio peers and maintaining strong income relative to debt. For context, the program significantly outperforms the state median of $45,852, though it doesn't quite reach the $63,966 level achieved by Ohio's top-performing program at Owens Community College.

For a student committed to criminal justice work in Ohio, this certificate offers solid early earning potential with limited financial risk. The slight earnings decline shouldn't overshadow the fundamental value: graduates are making good money quickly while carrying debt they can realistically pay down within a few years. Just understand that rapid career advancement may require additional credentials or a shift into specialized roles.