Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degree) at Holyoke Community College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$37,533

70th percentile

60th percentile in Massachusetts

Median Debt

$5,658

60% below national median

Analysis

Holyoke Community College's Criminal Justice associate's graduates earn notably more than the typical program nationally while carrying far less debt—just $5,658 versus a national median of $14,230. That 0.15 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly six weeks of their first-year salary, making this one of the most affordable entry points into criminal justice careers in Massachusetts.

The earnings picture shows steady, if modest, growth: graduates start at $37,533 and reach $43,424 by year four, representing a 16% increase. While this lands in Massachusetts' middle tier—programs at Bunker Hill and Mass Bay deliver stronger earnings—Holyoke's combination of low debt and reasonable pay still works financially. You're looking at a manageable monthly loan payment that won't crowd out other financial goals.

For families concerned about college affordability, this program delivers what community colleges promise: job-relevant training without the burden of substantial debt. The earnings won't match what four-year institutions produce, but neither will the financial stress. If your child wants to work in law enforcement or corrections and prefers to start earning quickly rather than spending years in school, this represents a practical path forward.

Where Holyoke Community College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Holyoke Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Holyoke Community College	$37,533	$43,424	+16%
North Shore Community College	$32,379	$51,379	+59%
Bunker Hill Community College	$47,573	$50,261	+6%
Quinsigamond Community College	$40,039	$45,098	+13%
Northern Essex Community College	$39,426	$44,559	+13%

Compare to Similar Programs in Massachusetts

Criminal Justice and Corrections associates's programs at peer institutions in Massachusetts (20 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Holyoke Community CollegeHolyoke	$5,810	$37,533	$43,424	$5,658	0.15
Bunker Hill Community CollegeBoston	$5,520	$47,573	$50,261	$5,500	0.12
Massachusetts Bay Community CollegeWellesley Hills	$5,616	$45,144	$43,689	$6,333	0.14
Middlesex Community CollegeBedford	$6,048	$41,796	$43,730	$10,950	0.26
Quinsigamond Community CollegeWorcester	$5,974	$40,039	$45,098	$16,250	0.41
Northern Essex Community CollegeHaverhill	$5,688	$39,426	$44,559	$7,432	0.19
National Median	—	$33,269	—	$14,230	0.43

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 Holyoke Community College, approximately 39% 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 37 graduates with reported earnings and 43 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.