Location: Lake Worth, FL•In-State Tuition: $3,050•Out-of-State Tuition: $10,910
Median Earnings (1yr)
$69,415
95th percentile
80th percentile in Florida
Median Debt
$16,000
20% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.23 ManageableSample: 168 graduates

Analysis

Palm Beach State College's Criminal Justice certificate punches well above its weight, delivering earnings of $69,415—nearly $20,000 more than the Florida median and outperforming 95% of similar programs nationwide. Among Florida's 40 criminal justice certificate programs, this ranks in the 80th percentile, surpassing even programs at other well-regarded state colleges. The $16,000 in typical debt translates to a highly manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23, meaning graduates owe less than three months of salary.

The catch is that earnings stay flat between year one and year four at roughly $69,000, suggesting graduates enter stable but relatively static positions—likely in corrections or law enforcement roles with structured pay scales. This isn't necessarily problematic for a certificate program designed for quick workforce entry, and the starting salary is strong enough that the lack of growth may not matter much in the early career years.

For a one-year credential costing around $16,000, this represents exceptional value. Your child would be earning more from day one than the vast majority of criminal justice certificate holders in Florida while carrying modest debt. Just ensure they understand they're likely entering a field with steady but predictable compensation rather than rapid salary progression.

Where Palm Beach State College Stands

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

Palm Beach State CollegeOther criminal justice and corrections programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Palm Beach State College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Palm Beach State College earns $69k — 95th percentile among criminal justice and corrections certificate programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Palm Beach State College$69,415$69,281-0%
Hillsborough Community College$62,249$58,760-6%
Indian River State College$60,298$54,930-9%
Florida State College at Jacksonville$60,055$52,154-13%
Osceola Technical College$53,164$50,145-6%

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate's programs at peer institutions in Florida (40 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Palm Beach State CollegeLake Worth$3,050$69,415$69,281$16,0000.23
Hillsborough Community CollegeTampa$2,506$62,249$58,760$18,9240.30
Indian River State CollegeFort Pierce$2,764$60,298$54,930$6,3520.11
Florida State College at JacksonvilleJacksonville$2,878$60,055$52,154$15,7960.26
Fort Myers Technical CollegeFort Myers—$58,949$46,386——
Manatee Technical CollegeBradenton—$58,216———
National Median—$48,388—$13,3550.28

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 Palm Beach State College, approximately 38% 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 168 graduates with reported earnings and 125 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.