Location: Brighton, MI
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$44,635
Est. from MI median (13 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$20,000
Est. from national median (58 programs)

Analysis

In Michigan's criminal justice associate landscape, this program faces a significant red flag: earnings appear to drop sharply after the first year, from an estimated $44,635 initially to just $25,541 by year four. While peer criminal justice programs in Michigan typically produce first-year earnings around $44,635, this four-year figure sits well below what other state programs sustain. Top community college programs in Michigan—Northwestern Michigan at $52,976, Oakland at $51,827—show their graduates can maintain or grow earnings over time, suggesting something different is happening here.

The estimated $20,000 debt load looks manageable against first-year earnings (a 0.45 ratio), but becomes concerning when measured against that $25,541 four-year mark. With 72% of students receiving Pell grants, most families here don't have financial cushion if those mid-career earnings don't recover. Whether this earnings drop reflects graduates leaving the field, taking time for further education, or employment instability matters tremendously for return on investment.

Before committing, demand clarity from Ross on what's driving that year-four earnings drop. Michigan offers multiple community college alternatives with stronger earnings trajectories at comparable or lower debt. Given the limited data here and the concerning earnings pattern, exploring established programs like Oakland or Schoolcraft—where outcomes are transparent and consistently strong—would give you more confidence in the investment.

Where Ross Medical Education Center-Brighton Stands

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

Ross Medical Education Center-Brighton (estimated ±10%)Other criminal justice and corrections programs

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

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Ross Medical Education Center-Brighton—$25,541—
Oakland Community College$51,827$62,425+20%
Schoolcraft Community College District$49,224$59,586+21%
Ferris State University$48,203$58,930+22%
Lake Superior State University$44,635$55,016+23%

Compare to Similar Programs in Michigan

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

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Ross Medical Education Center-BrightonBrighton—$44,635*$25,541$20,000*—
Northwestern Michigan CollegeTraverse City$5,350$52,976*$40,135—*—
Oakland Community CollegeAuburn Hills$3,020$51,827*$62,425$13,506*0.26
Schoolcraft Community College DistrictLivonia$4,448$49,224*$59,586$11,868*0.24
Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids$13,630$48,203*$58,930$18,500*0.38
Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids$4,059$48,049*$39,367$12,101*0.25
National Median—$33,269*—$14,230*0.43
* 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 Ross Medical Education Center-Brighton, approximately 72% 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 13 similar programs in MI. Actual outcomes may vary.