Criminal Justice and Corrections at Luzerne County Community College

At $12,000 in debt, this program keeps borrowing manageable—roughly one-third of first-year earnings—though the modest starting salary of $32,847 means graduates will feel that payment more than borrowers at higher-earning programs. The 16% earnings jump to $38,162 by year four suggests steady career progression, and performance at Pennsylvania's 60th percentile indicates this program outpaces most in-state competitors, even if it trails community colleges in more populous areas by significant margins.

The real caution here is sample size: with fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort, one or two outliers could be skewing the picture in either direction. Criminal justice careers in rural Pennsylvania may simply follow different patterns than metropolitan markets, where larger departments offer more advancement opportunities. The modest earnings also reflect the realities of entry-level corrections and law enforcement work, which typically requires additional academy training before reaching full salary levels.

For families prioritizing low debt and stable local employment, this program checks both boxes—just understand you're looking at a working-class career path, not a ticket to middle-class earnings. The debt load won't bury anyone, but starting at $32,847 means budgeting carefully in those first years.