Criminal Justice and Corrections (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Lakewood University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$45,853

Est. from OH median (12 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$14,860

Est. from national median (11 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 looks manageable on paper, but the context here matters considerably. Similar criminal justice programs in Ohio suggest first-year earnings around $46,000, which lands at the state median but well below what stronger programs deliver—top Ohio schools report outcomes ranging from $54,000 to $64,000 for the same credential. That $18,000 earnings gap in year one compounds over a career, and for a certificate program, starting significantly below your peer institutions raises questions about whether this particular pathway is competitive.

The estimated $14,860 in debt sits above both the state median ($8,900) and national median ($13,400) for this credential, which is unusual for what should be a relatively quick, focused program. Combined with earnings that merely match the middle of the pack, Lakewood's program appears positioned at a disadvantage compared to both community colleges and career-technical schools in Ohio that report stronger graduate outcomes. The extremely low Pell grant enrollment (5%) also suggests this may not be serving the population most likely to pursue certificate programs in this field.

For parents considering this investment, the fundamental issue is whether a certificate here opens the same doors as alternatives nearby. If your child can access one of Ohio's top-performing criminal justice programs—particularly at community colleges or career-technical schools—the evidence suggests those routes deliver substantially better returns for similar or lower debt.

Where Lakewood University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (42 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Lakewood UniversityCleveland Heights	$10,479	$45,853*	—	$14,860*	—
Owens Community CollegePerrysburg	$5,750	$63,966*	—	$13,549*	0.21
Great Oaks Career CampusesCincinnati	—	$60,896*	$58,929	$16,673*	0.27
Butler Technology and Career Development SchoolsMonroe	—	$53,759*	—	$8,022*	0.15
Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical SchoolsGroveport	—	$53,090*	$55,680	$7,874*	0.15
North Central State CollegeMansfield	$4,624	$53,039*	—	—*	—
National Median	—	$48,388*	—	$13,355*	0.28

* 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 Lakewood University, approximately 5% 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 12 similar programs in OH. Actual outcomes may vary.