Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degree) at Northeast Community College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$33,064

49th percentile

Median Debt

$9,000

37% below national median

Analysis

Northeast Community College's criminal justice program stands out in Nebraska, placing in the 60th percentile statewide with first-year earnings of $33,064—about $4,500 above the state median. The $9,000 in typical debt sits well below both state and national averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.27. For context, graduates here carry roughly $5,000 less debt than peers at other Nebraska community colleges while earning comparable or better salaries.

The earnings trajectory looks promising, with a 30% jump to $42,951 by year four. That's solid growth for an associate's degree in this field, though it's worth noting these figures come from a small sample of fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary more than the numbers suggest.

The combination of below-average debt and above-state-median earnings makes this a relatively safe bet for students pursuing law enforcement or corrections work in Nebraska. You're looking at manageable debt that represents just three months of post-graduation income—a threshold most financial advisors consider healthy. Just be aware that criminal justice salaries in Nebraska start lower than the national median, reflecting regional cost of living and public sector pay scales.

Where Northeast Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections associates's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Northeast Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Northeast Community College	$33,064	$42,951	+30%
Oakland Community College	$51,827	$62,425	+20%
Schoolcraft Community College District	$49,224	$59,586	+21%
Southeast Community College Area	$28,473	$46,309	+63%
Metropolitan Community College Area	$28,511	$37,863	+33%

Compare to Similar Programs in Nebraska

Criminal Justice and Corrections associates's programs at peer institutions in Nebraska (5 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Northeast Community CollegeNorfolk	$3,840	$33,064	$42,951	$9,000	0.27
Metropolitan Community College AreaOmaha	$3,285	$28,511	$37,863	$13,462	0.47
Southeast Community College AreaLincoln	$3,540	$28,473	$46,309	$14,552	0.51
National Median	—	$33,269	—	$14,230	0.43

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Northeast Community College, approximately 17% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 20 graduates with reported earnings and 27 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.