Criminal Justice and Corrections at Owens Community College

Owens Community College's criminal justice certificate delivers earnings that outpace both national and state expectations by a wide margin—graduates earn $64,000 within their first year, ranking in the 80th percentile among Ohio programs. That's nearly $18,000 above the Ohio median and $16,000 above the national benchmark, placing it among the top performers in the state. Only Great Oaks Career Campuses shows stronger outcomes among the 42 Ohio schools offering this program.

The debt picture requires some context. At $13,549, borrowing sits near the national median but above Ohio's typical $8,919. However, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.21, graduates can realistically pay off their loans within a few months of entry-level salary—a manageable burden given the strong earning potential. The relatively low percentage of Pell recipients (22%) suggests the program may serve students with more financial resources, though the certificate format keeps overall costs reasonable.

For parents weighing this investment, the numbers are straightforward: your child would enter a field earning substantially more than typical certificate holders in Ohio, with debt that won't derail their financial future. The certificate's focused nature means less time out of the workforce, and the earnings justify the slightly higher borrowing compared to other Ohio schools.