Criminal Justice and Corrections (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at South Piedmont Community College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$47,748

48th percentile

60th percentile in North Carolina

Median Debt

$17,823

33% above national median

Analysis

South Piedmont Community College's criminal justice certificate graduates earn nearly $1,000 more than the typical North Carolina program in this field, landing them in the 60th percentile statewide—a solid position given that 58 NC schools compete in this space. First-year earnings of $47,748 translate to real paychecks for entry-level corrections officers or law enforcement support roles, though students should note this lags slightly behind what graduates earn at Cape Fear or Gaston College programs nearby.

The debt picture offers the real advantage here. At $17,823, graduates borrow substantially less than the national average, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.37—meaning debt totals less than five months of salary. That's manageable for most families, especially compared to four-year options in this field. The moderate sample size suggests consistent program outcomes rather than a few outliers driving the numbers.

For families considering community college paths into law enforcement or corrections, this program delivers market-rate earnings with below-average debt. It won't catapult graduates to the highest-paying positions right away, but it provides a cost-effective credential that pays for itself quickly and opens doors to stable public sector employment.

Where South Piedmont Community College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How South Piedmont Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (58 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
South Piedmont Community CollegePolkton	$2,022	$47,748	—	$17,823	0.37
Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington	$2,748	$52,282	$42,740	$16,042	0.31
Gaston CollegeDallas	$3,186	$50,038	—	—	—
Durham Technical Community CollegeDurham	$1,986	$49,893	—	$17,750	0.36
Forsyth Technical Community CollegeWinston-Salem	$2,256	$48,388	—	$21,066	0.44
Wilson Community CollegeWilson	$2,572	$48,304	—	$17,060	0.35
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 South Piedmont Community College, approximately 18% 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 35 graduates with reported earnings and 26 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.