Criminal Justice and Corrections at Pitt Community College

Pitt Community College graduates in this program earn right at North Carolina's median for criminal justice associate's degrees—$33,018 versus the state's $33,018—but the program manages to achieve this while keeping debt significantly lower than typical in-state peers ($15,900 versus the state median of $19,795). Among North Carolina criminal justice programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings, meaning it outperforms most community colleges despite matching the state median exactly. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 is manageable, translating to less than half your first year's salary in total borrowing.

However, two factors deserve attention. First, earnings remain nearly flat over the first four years ($33,018 to $34,041), suggesting limited advancement opportunity in early-career criminal justice roles. Second, and importantly, the data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, making these figures less reliable than programs with larger cohorts. Compare this to Central Piedmont's criminal justice program, where graduates earn $44,616—more than $11,000 annually above Pitt's outcomes.

For a family watching costs carefully, Pitt delivers solid value: graduates enter the workforce with manageable debt and earnings that match state norms. Just understand that career advancement may require additional credentials or job changes, and verify current enrollment numbers to ensure the program remains stable.