Criminal Justice and Corrections at Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee Area Technical College's Criminal Justice program outperforms the national median by nearly $5,000 annually but sits squarely in the middle of Wisconsin's competitive technical college landscape. At $38,027 first-year earnings, graduates here earn 14% above the national average for associate's programs in this field, though they trail several in-state alternatives—Southwest Wisconsin Technical College graduates, for instance, earn $51,806, about 36% more.

The real strength here is the financial package: graduates carry $18,082 in debt, which is higher than Wisconsin's median but still represents less than half a year's starting salary. With 41% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves a significant population of lower-income students and gets them into the workforce with manageable debt loads. The 15% earnings bump from year one to year four suggests steady career progression, though the pace is modest rather than dramatic.

For Wisconsin families, this comes down to location and accessibility. If your child can attend Southwest Wisconsin or Northwood technical colleges without major relocation costs, those programs deliver substantially higher returns. But Milwaukee Area Technical College offers a solid middle-ground option—especially for Milwaukee-area residents who can minimize living expenses—with debt levels that won't derail other financial goals. The program works best for students who need to stay local and prioritize getting credentials quickly over maximizing starting salary.