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

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$46,997

Est. from NC median (14 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$17,280

Est. from NC median (10 programs)

Analysis

In North Carolina, criminal justice certificate programs show a wide earnings spread, with top performers like Cape Fear Community College seeing graduates earn over $52,000 while others cluster around $47,000. Based on comparable programs statewide, Southeastern's students would likely face estimated debt of $17,280—about $4,000 above the national median for this credential—while earning near the middle of the state pack at roughly $47,000 in their first year.

That debt level matters because certificate programs are meant to be quick, affordable pathways into work. A 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, but it's less favorable than what you'd see at programs carrying the typical $13,000 in national debt. For a family already stretching financially (45% of students here receive Pell grants), borrowing more than $17,000 for a one-year credential deserves careful scrutiny, especially when nearby community colleges are producing similar outcomes with potentially different cost structures.

The practical question: can your child access criminal justice work in their area without this certificate, or does the local job market demand the credential? If nearby departments hire candidates with just a high school diploma or associate degree, taking on above-average debt for a certificate might not pencil out. If the certificate genuinely opens doors—and particularly if your child can reduce borrowing through grants or working part-time—the investment becomes more defensible.

Where Southeastern Community College Stands

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

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Southeastern Community CollegeWhiteville	$2,600	$46,997*	—	$17,280*	—
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

* 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 Southeastern Community College, approximately 45% 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 14 similar programs in NC. Actual outcomes may vary.