Criminal Justice and Corrections (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Median Earnings (1yr)

$38,907

28th percentile

25th percentile in Pennsylvania

Median Debt

$23,500

76% above national median

Analysis

Before you write that tuition check for this certificate, understand that Shippensburg's criminal justice program trails far behind Pennsylvania alternatives—and these numbers come from a very small sample of graduates that may not reflect typical outcomes.

The concerning part isn't just that graduates earn $38,907 while Pennsylvania's median for this certificate sits at $53,553. It's that nearby community colleges are seeing dramatically different results: Montgomery County Community College grads from similar programs earn $69,937, and even Delaware County Community College's $57,464 is nearly 50% higher than Shippensburg's figure. Among Pennsylvania's 22 programs in this field, Shippensburg lands in the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of comparable in-state programs produce better earnings. The debt load of $23,500, while representing excellent low debt nationally, still requires paying 60% of that first year's salary toward loans.

The very small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly with a different graduating class, but that uncertainty cuts both ways. If your child is considering criminal justice certification in Pennsylvania, the data suggests exploring community college options first, where lower tuition costs and stronger earnings outcomes appear to deliver substantially better return on investment.

Where Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (22 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaShippensburg	$13,544	$38,907	—	$23,500	0.60
Montgomery County Community CollegeBlue Bell	$6,270	$69,937	$84,615	$18,888	0.27
Delaware County Community CollegeMedia	$6,660	$57,464	$55,767	$16,625	0.29
Lackawanna CollegeScranton	$17,950	$49,642	$67,533	$12,115	0.24
National Median	—	$48,388	—	$13,355	0.28

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 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, approximately 30% 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.