Criminal Justice and Corrections at Northcentral Technical College

Northcentral Technical College's Criminal Justice program produces graduates earning above both national and state medians, though the small sample size warrants caution. At $39,421 in the first year, graduates here outpace the national median by $6,000—landing in the 77th percentile nationally. However, within Wisconsin's competitive landscape, this program sits squarely in the middle (60th percentile), trailing schools like Southwest Wisconsin Technical College by over $12,000.

The real advantage here is affordability. With just $9,750 in median debt—about $4,000 below the state median—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25 means graduates owe roughly three months of income. That's manageable territory, especially considering steady 7% earnings growth to year four. While this won't match the earning power of top Wisconsin programs, it represents a low-risk entry into law enforcement or corrections careers.

Given fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these figures could shift with a larger sample. But the pattern suggests a reasonable pathway for students prioritizing local employment in north-central Wisconsin without accumulating significant debt. For families choosing between technical colleges in the state, this offers middle-tier earnings with below-average financial burden.