Criminal Justice and Corrections at Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute

Graduating with nearly $30,000 in debt to earn $30,500 annually is a red flag for any program, but it's especially concerning for criminal justice—a field where Pennsylvania community colleges routinely deliver better outcomes at half the cost. This program's debt burden ranks in the bottom 5% nationally for the field, yet its earnings barely reach the 40th percentile among Pennsylvania programs. Compare this to Montgomery County Community College graduates earning $48,000 or even Harrisburg Area's $38,000, both with significantly lower debt loads.

The flat earnings trajectory compounds the problem. Graduates see essentially no income growth between years one and four, suggesting limited advancement opportunities or high turnover in the positions they're securing. Meanwhile, that $29,517 debt—more than double Pennsylvania's median for this degree—will take years to repay on a $30,000 salary. With 53% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are taking on disproportionate financial risk.

For families committed to this career path, the state's public community colleges offer substantially better value. The debt-to-earnings ratio alone should prompt serious reconsideration unless this location provides unique access advantages that offset the financial disadvantage. This is a case where the institutional choice matters more than the degree itself.