Location: Sarasota, FL
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$49,774
Est. from FL median (20 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$9,563
Est. from FL median (13 programs)

Analysis

A debt load under $10,000 for a credential that positions graduates near the $50,000 mark looks manageable on paper—the estimated 0.19 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests borrowers could reasonably pay this off within a year of full-time work. But context matters here. These figures come from the typical criminal justice certificate program in Florida, not from Suncoast Technical College's specific outcomes, so they represent what's common across the state rather than what this particular school delivers.

The gap between peer institutions is striking. While similar programs in Florida cluster around $50,000 in first-year earnings, top performers like Palm Beach State and Hillsborough Community College report outcomes approaching $70,000—suggesting that where you study criminal justice in Florida makes a substantial difference. Without actual data from Suncoast, there's no way to know whether its graduates land closer to the state average or join those higher-earning cohorts.

For parents considering this investment, the low estimated debt is the strongest selling point—it limits downside risk even if earnings disappoint. But before committing, contact Suncoast directly and ask what percentage of their criminal justice graduates find employment in the field within six months, and what their typical starting salaries look like. Those specifics will tell you far more than statewide estimates can.

Where Suncoast Technical College Stands

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

Suncoast Technical College (estimated ±10%)Other criminal justice and corrections programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate's programs at peer institutions in Florida (40 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Suncoast Technical CollegeSarasota—$49,774*—$9,563*—
Palm Beach State CollegeLake Worth$3,050$69,415*$69,281$16,000*0.23
Hillsborough Community CollegeTampa$2,506$62,249*$58,760$18,924*0.30
Indian River State CollegeFort Pierce$2,764$60,298*$54,930$6,352*0.11
Florida State College at JacksonvilleJacksonville$2,878$60,055*$52,154$15,796*0.26
Fort Myers Technical CollegeFort Myers—$58,949*$46,386—*—
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 Suncoast Technical College, approximately 11% 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 20 similar programs in FL. Actual outcomes may vary.