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

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$43,051

Est. from IA median (4 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$11,750

Est. from IA median (4 programs)

Analysis

Looking at similar criminal justice associate programs in Iowa, Kirkwood appears positioned in the middle of a competitive field. Peer programs in the state suggest first-year earnings around $43,000—nearly $10,000 above the national median for this credential—with graduates carrying roughly $11,750 in debt. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 means the estimated loan burden equals about three months of gross income, which is manageable territory for an associate degree.

Iowa's criminal justice market seems unusually strong compared to national patterns, with the state median exceeding even the 75th percentile nationally. However, Kirkwood's estimated position trails behind Hawkeye Community College (where graduates earn nearly $50,000) and Western Iowa Tech, suggesting location and specific program focus matter significantly within the state. The debt burden estimated here is also below the national median, which helps the value proposition.

For parents weighing this program, the key question is local employment prospects in Cedar Rapids versus other Iowa communities. The estimates suggest reasonable economics for an associate degree, but without actual reported data from Kirkwood itself, you're making this decision based on what's typical across Iowa rather than what this specific program delivers. Given the variation among Iowa schools—a $10,000 spread between top and bottom performers—the school's actual placement rates and employer partnerships matter more than these statewide averages can tell you.

Where Kirkwood Community College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Iowa

Criminal Justice and Corrections associates's programs at peer institutions in Iowa (15 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar Rapids	$5,980	$43,051*	—	$11,750*	—
Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo	$6,308	$49,572*	$47,941	$11,000*	0.22
Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City	$5,042	$43,547*	$39,069	$11,500*	0.26
Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny	$5,550	$42,555*	$38,691	$12,000*	0.28
Iowa Central Community CollegeFort Dodge	$5,376	$39,121*	$47,635	$14,473*	0.37
National Median	—	$33,269*	—	$14,230*	0.43

* Estimated from similar programs

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 Kirkwood Community College, approximately 24% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in IA. Actual outcomes may vary.