Location: Nelsonville, OH•In-State Tuition: $5,300•Out-of-State Tuition: $9,810
Median Earnings (1yr)
$33,845
53rd percentile
40th percentile in Ohio
Median Debt
$14,750
4% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.44 ManageableSample: 16 graduates Limited data

Analysis

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.

Where Hocking College Stands

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

Hocking CollegeOther criminal justice and corrections programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Hocking College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Hocking College earns $34k — 53th percentile among criminal justice and corrections associates programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Hocking College$33,845$40,399+19%
Ohio University-Lancaster Campus$44,159$46,411+5%
Ohio University-Southern Campus$44,159$46,411+5%
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus$44,159$46,411+5%
Ohio University-Main Campus$44,159$46,411+5%

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Criminal Justice and Corrections associates's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (57 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Hocking CollegeNelsonville$5,300$33,845$40,399$14,7500.44
North Central State CollegeMansfield$4,624$47,397—$10,7820.23
Ohio University-Lancaster CampusLancaster$6,178$44,159$46,411$13,5000.31
Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusChillicothe$6,178$44,159$46,411$13,5000.31
Ohio University-Southern CampusIronton$6,178$44,159$46,411$13,5000.31
Ohio University-Main CampusAthens$13,746$44,159$46,411$13,5000.31
National Median—$33,269—$14,2300.43

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 Hocking College, approximately 46% 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 16 graduates with reported earnings and 27 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.