Criminal Justice and Corrections at Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus

This certificate program sits exactly at the New Jersey median for criminal justice programs—performing better than half of in-state alternatives but trailing the national average by about $10,000 annually. That 60th percentile state ranking matters because community college students typically stay local, and among NJ options, this program beats schools like Passaic County by a substantial margin. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year.

The real concern here is the earnings trajectory. Graduates see their median income drop from $38,144 to $34,212 over four years—a 10% decline that's unusual for any credential. While the debt load is modest at under $12,000, the combination of below-national-average starting pay and falling earnings creates a narrow economic margin. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 is manageable, but only if that downward earnings trend doesn't continue.

For families considering this program, the key question is career path. If this certificate is a stepping stone toward an associate's or bachelor's degree, the modest debt makes sense. As a terminal credential in a field where earnings appear to peak immediately after graduation, it's harder to justify compared to what graduates earn at nearby Camden County College. The limited sample size means one strong or weak cohort heavily influences these numbers, so don't treat them as gospel.