Criminal Justice and Corrections at Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Horry-Georgetown Technical College's criminal justice program comes with an important caveat right up front: the sample size is small, meaning these numbers could shift significantly with more data. That said, what we see here isn't particularly encouraging. Graduates earn around $31,000 in their first year, which lands below both the national median ($33,269) and the state median ($31,780) for this degree. More concerning, earnings actually dip slightly by year four rather than growing—unusual for any program.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $15,500, it's manageable and below the state average of $17,313 for similar programs. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50 means graduates theoretically owe about six months' salary, which is workable. However, when you look across South Carolina's technical colleges, stronger options clearly exist. York Technical College graduates in this field earn $44,401—nearly $14,000 more annually—though that could involve different job placement patterns or student demographics.

For families considering this program, the flat earnings trajectory is the real concern. Criminal justice careers often start modestly but should show upward mobility over time. Whether this reflects local job market constraints or program outcomes is unclear given the limited data. If this is your only option or you're already committed to the Conway area, the manageable debt makes it less risky. Otherwise, exploring programs at York or Tri-County Technical might yield better returns.