Criminal Justice and Corrections at Hocking College

Hocking College's Criminal Justice associate's program produces graduates who earn slightly above the national average but notably lag behind other Ohio programs—landing in just the 40th percentile statewide. While first-year earnings of $33,845 edge out the national median by about $600, they fall nearly $5,000 short of Ohio's median for this degree. The state's top performers, including several Ohio University campuses, see graduates earning $44,000+, suggesting location and institutional connections matter significantly in this field.

The debt picture offers some consolation: $14,750 sits below Ohio's typical burden for criminal justice programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 that's manageable. Earnings also show healthy momentum, climbing 19% to over $40,000 by year four. However, even with that growth, graduates remain well behind state peers. With 46% of students on Pell grants, many families here are making education decisions on tight budgets.

The critical caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers less reliable than larger programs. For parents weighing this investment, the combination of below-state earnings and small sample size suggests exploring other Ohio criminal justice programs—particularly those Ohio University campuses that consistently produce stronger outcomes—unless Hocking's location or specific career services offer compelling advantages that aren't captured in these earnings figures.