Criminal Justice and Corrections at Midlands Technical College

That unusually low first-year salary of $20,266 should raise immediate questions. While this program shows dramatic 88% earnings growth by year four—reaching $38,148—that initial figure sits well below both the South Carolina median ($31,780) and national median ($33,269) for criminal justice associate's programs. Among the 19 similar programs in the state, this ranks at just the 10th percentile. York Technical College, for comparison, shows graduates earning more than double ($44,401) after four years.

The modest debt load of $17,313 matches the state median and keeps the financial risk manageable, but the real concern is the lengthy ramp-up period. That first year's earnings barely reaches poverty-level wages, suggesting graduates may be starting in part-time roles, corrections officer training positions, or unrelated work while seeking criminal justice employment. The small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) adds uncertainty—a few outliers could be skewing these numbers significantly.

If your child is set on criminal justice in South Carolina, exploring programs at York Technical or Tri-County Technical would offer stronger early earnings potential. Unless there are compelling geographic or circumstantial reasons to choose Midlands Technical specifically, the data suggests this program leaves students struggling financially in those critical first years after graduation.