Criminal Justice and Corrections (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)Estimated

$60,737

Est. from WI median (9 programs)

Est. Median DebtEstimated

$18,750

Est. from WI median (7 programs)

Based on U.S. Department of Education data (October 2025 release). Some figures are estimates based on similar programs — see details below.

Analysis

Similar criminal justice programs across Wisconsin's technical college system suggest graduates can expect around $60,700 in first-year earnings—a solid outcome that surpasses the national median for this credential by more than $12,000. This estimate places Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in the middle of the pack among Wisconsin technical colleges offering this certificate, though the state's top performers report earnings reaching into the low $70,000s.

The estimated debt of $18,750 translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31, meaning graduates would owe roughly one-third of their first-year income. That's manageable compared to many associate or bachelor's degree programs, though it's worth noting the national median debt for this certificate sits at just $13,355. Wisconsin's technical colleges appear to carry higher typical debt loads for this credential, which narrows the financial advantage somewhat.

For parents evaluating this program, the core question is whether the certificate provides adequate preparation for law enforcement or corrections careers that can support that debt level. If your student can enter this field and achieve earnings consistent with peer Wisconsin programs, the numbers work. But given we're working with estimates rather than this school's actual graduate outcomes, verify what percentage of certificate holders successfully transition into full-time positions in the field before committing.

Where Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (16 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Southwest Wisconsin Technical CollegeFennimore	$4,796	$60,737*	—	$18,750*	—
Gateway Technical CollegeKenosha	$4,853	$73,818*	$73,034	$18,750*	0.25
Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee	$4,720	$69,115*	—	$19,500*	0.28
Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville	$4,170	$68,669*	—	$19,381*	0.28
Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton	$4,916	$64,741*	—	$22,250*	0.34
Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire	$4,724	$60,737*	$55,746	$15,335*	0.25
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 Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, approximately 20% 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 9 similar programs in WI. Actual outcomes may vary.