Criminal Justice and Corrections at Onondaga Community College

At first glance, Onondaga's criminal justice program looks weak—graduates start at just $27,074, landing in the 11th percentile nationally. But zoom out to year four and the picture shifts dramatically: earnings jump 29% to nearly $35,000, which is actually competitive with programs that start stronger. The low debt load of $11,000 (below both state and national medians) means graduates can absorb this slower start without crushing financial pressure.

The program sits squarely in the middle among New York's 54 criminal justice programs—not impressive, but not alarming either. What's notable is the trajectory: while peers at SUNY Broome or Genesee start $13,000 higher, Onondaga graduates are closing that gap by year four, suggesting they're landing career-track positions that offer advancement. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 is manageable, and you'll have the loan paid off relatively quickly once earnings stabilize.

This program makes sense if your child is committed to law enforcement or corrections work in central New York and values an affordable entry point over immediate earning power. The real risk is that first year—living on $27,000 requires either family support or a second income. If that's not feasible, the stronger-starting programs elsewhere in the SUNY system might justify the likely minimal difference in upfront cost.