Location: Haverhill, MA•In-State Tuition: $5,688•Out-of-State Tuition: $11,472
Median Earnings (1yr)
$39,426
77th percentile
60th percentile in Massachusetts
Median Debt
$7,432
48% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.19 ManageableSample: 18 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Northern Essex Community College's Criminal Justice program delivers something rare: strong earnings with minimal debt. Graduates start at $39,426—well above both the national median ($33,269) and Massachusetts median ($37,533) for associate's-level criminal justice programs. The $7,432 median debt means borrowers face just 19 cents of debt for every dollar earned in year one, an exceptionally manageable burden compared to the national median of $14,230.

Within Massachusetts, this program sits in the 60th percentile, meaning it outearns most similar programs in the state but trails the top performers. Bunker Hill and MassBay graduates earn roughly $5,000-$8,000 more annually, though Northern Essex's debt levels remain far below average. The 13% earnings growth over four years is steady if unremarkable, bringing graduates to $44,559—a respectable trajectory for law enforcement and corrections careers that often include structured pay scales.

The catch: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, which means one exceptional or struggling cohort could skew the picture significantly. Still, the debt-to-earnings fundamentals make this a low-risk investment for students serious about public safety careers, especially compared to alternatives with similar outcomes but double the debt load.

Where Northern Essex Community College Stands

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

Northern Essex Community CollegeOther criminal justice and corrections programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Northern Essex Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Northern Essex Community College earns $39k — 77th percentile among criminal justice and corrections associates programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Northern Essex Community College$39,426$44,559+13%
North Shore Community College$32,379$51,379+59%
Bunker Hill Community College$47,573$50,261+6%
Quinsigamond Community College$40,039$45,098+13%
Middlesex Community College$41,796$43,730+5%

Compare to Similar Programs in Massachusetts

Criminal Justice and Corrections associates's programs at peer institutions in Massachusetts (20 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Northern Essex Community CollegeHaverhill$5,688$39,426$44,559$7,4320.19
Bunker Hill Community CollegeBoston$5,520$47,573$50,261$5,5000.12
Massachusetts Bay Community CollegeWellesley Hills$5,616$45,144$43,689$6,3330.14
Middlesex Community CollegeBedford$6,048$41,796$43,730$10,9500.26
Quinsigamond Community CollegeWorcester$5,974$40,039$45,098$16,2500.41
Holyoke Community CollegeHolyoke$5,810$37,533$43,424$5,6580.15
National Median—$33,269—$14,2300.43

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 Northern Essex Community College, approximately 33% 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 18 graduates with reported earnings and 26 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.