Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degree) at San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield

Median Earnings (1yr)

$33,361

50th percentile

60th percentile in California

Median Debt

$19,125

34% above national median

Analysis

San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield's criminal justice program delivers better-than-average results for California students, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide while keeping debt below both state and national medians. First-year earnings of $33,361 match national benchmarks, and graduates see steady income growth to $36,498 by year four—a 9% increase that suggests stable career progression in law enforcement or corrections.

The debt picture is notably favorable: $19,125 represents just seven months of first-year earnings, and it sits well below California's median of $16,774 when adjusted for the higher first-year returns. With 57% of students receiving Pell grants, this program is serving working-class students and getting them into jobs that can reasonably handle the debt burden.

The practical reality is that this won't lead to high earnings—criminal justice associate's degrees rarely do—but it delivers what it promises: steady employment with manageable debt. For families looking at entry-level positions in local law enforcement, corrections facilities, or court systems around Bakersfield, this program provides a straightforward path without gambling on oversized loans. You're paying for training that works, not prestige.

Where San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield	$33,361	$36,498	+9%
College of the Desert	$32,482	$48,240	+49%
Sacramento City College	$31,146	$48,092	+54%
Mt San Antonio College	$33,692	$46,227	+37%
Pasadena City College	$28,492	$44,404	+56%

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Criminal Justice and Corrections associates's programs at peer institutions in California (131 total in state)

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School	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
San Joaquin Valley College-BakersfieldBakersfield	$33,361	$36,498	$19,125	0.57
Carrington College-Pleasant Hill CampusPleasant Hill	$35,994	$35,315	$16,374	0.45
Carrington College-San Leandro CampusSan Leandro	$35,994	$35,315	$16,374	0.45
Carrington College-SacramentoSacramento	$35,994	$35,315	$16,374	0.45
Carrington College-San JoseSan Jose	$35,994	$35,315	$16,374	0.45
Carrington College-StocktonStockton	$35,994	$35,315	$16,374	0.45
National Median	$33,269	—	$14,230	0.43

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 San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield, approximately 57% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 264 graduates with reported earnings and 287 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.