Criminal Justice and Corrections at Passaic County Community College

This program's numbers raise serious questions, though the small sample size means they could shift dramatically year to year. Graduates earn just $23,559 in their first year—less than half the national median for criminal justice certificates and well below New Jersey's state median of $38,144. At the 10th percentile statewide, this ranks near the bottom among the 15 New Jersey schools offering this credential. For comparison, Camden County College graduates from the same program earn $59,298 their first year out.

The 60% earnings jump to $37,771 by year four offers some hope, but that still trails both state and national benchmarks. Meanwhile, the $10,625 in debt isn't catastrophic in absolute terms but represents 45% of that meager first-year salary—a concerning ratio when entry-level earnings should be covering basic living expenses. More than half of students here receive Pell grants, suggesting many graduates will be navigating these low earnings without family financial cushions.

The data is too thin (under 30 graduates tracked) to rule this program out completely, but parents should ask hard questions about why outcomes lag so far behind other New Jersey community colleges. If your child is committed to criminal justice, Camden County College produces dramatically better results with graduates in this state.