Criminal Justice and Corrections at Piedmont Technical College

Piedmont Technical College's criminal justice program sits squarely in the middle among South Carolina's 19 options, landing at the 60th percentile statewide with first-year earnings of $32,721. While that's slightly below the national median, the debt picture here is notably better than typical—graduates carry $20,650 in loans compared to a national median of $14,230, but this still translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. The challenge is earnings growth: after four years, graduates see just 7% income gains, reaching $34,909. For comparison, York Technical's graduates in the same field start at $44,401, though that may reflect different regional job markets or career tracks within law enforcement and corrections.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates tracked) means these numbers could swing considerably year to year, so they're best viewed as directional rather than definitive. Nearly half of students receive Pell grants, suggesting the program serves working-class families for whom the relatively moderate debt load matters. If your child is committed to this career path and prefers staying in the Greenwood area, this represents an affordable entry point. But if mobility is an option, programs at York, Tri-County, or Greenville Technical deliver substantially higher starting salaries that could make relocation worth considering.