Location: Roxboro, NC•In-State Tuition: $2,556•Out-of-State Tuition: $8,700
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$46,997
Est. from NC median (14 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$17,280
Est. from NC median (10 programs)

Analysis

Criminal justice certificates in North Carolina show a wide earnings spread—from around $37,000 at the lower end to over $52,000 at the top. Based on comparable programs statewide, graduates from this certificate typically earn about $47,000 in their first year, placing them squarely in the middle of the pack but below the state's strongest performers like Cape Fear and Gaston College, which see graduates earning $50,000 to $52,000. The estimated debt load of $17,280 is higher than the national median for this credential ($13,355), though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 remains manageable.

The practical challenge is that similar programs across North Carolina produce vastly different outcomes. If your student can access one of the higher-performing community colleges—where first-year earnings reach into the low fifties—the economics improve significantly. At the estimated middle-tier outcome, the debt remains payable but leaves less financial breathing room than the stronger alternatives. This program appears viable for someone already working in law enforcement who needs the credential for advancement, but less compelling for someone starting from scratch with multiple options in the region.

Where Piedmont Community College Stands

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

Piedmont Community College (estimated ±10%)Other criminal justice and corrections programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (58 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Piedmont Community CollegeRoxboro$2,556$46,997*—$17,280*—
Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington$2,748$52,282*$42,740$16,042*0.31
Gaston CollegeDallas$3,186$50,038*——*—
Durham Technical Community CollegeDurham$1,986$49,893*—$17,750*0.36
Forsyth Technical Community CollegeWinston-Salem$2,256$48,388*—$21,066*0.44
Wilson Community CollegeWilson$2,572$48,304*—$17,060*0.35
National Median—$48,388*—$13,355*0.28
* Estimated from similar programs

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 Piedmont Community College, approximately 29% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 14 similar programs in NC. Actual outcomes may vary.