Criminal Justice and Corrections at Inver Hills Community College

Inver Hills graduates start strong—earning $52,724 in their first year, well above Minnesota's median of $51,000 for criminal justice programs—but those earnings drop significantly to $43,593 by year four. This 17% decline matters because it suggests either career instability or initial placement in roles that don't lead to advancement. With debt around $24,000, the first-year picture looks manageable (less than half of earnings), but the combination of falling income and above-state-average debt creates a tighter financial squeeze over time than the strong opening suggests.

The real concern here is that this program sits in the middle of Minnesota's pack despite the impressive national comparison. Five other Minnesota community colleges produce similar or better first-year outcomes, often with lower debt loads. The small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates tracked—adds uncertainty to these figures, making it harder to know whether the earnings decline is a pattern or an artifact of tracking just a handful of people.

For families considering this program, the key question is career trajectory. If your student plans to use this associate's degree as a stepping stone to further education or specialized law enforcement training, the strong starting salary provides a decent foundation. But as a terminal degree for immediate career entry, the downward earnings trend and middling state ranking suggest looking closely at what distinguishes the higher-performing Minnesota programs before committing.