Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degree) at Wayne County Community College District

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$44,635

Est. from MI median (13 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$12,804

Est. from MI median (10 programs)

Analysis

Michigan's community college criminal justice programs typically prepare graduates who earn well above the national average, and Wayne County's estimated $44,635 first-year earnings—drawn from 13 similar programs statewide—reflects this stronger regional market. That figure substantially exceeds the $33,269 national median for associate-level criminal justice programs and matches the state median exactly. However, several Michigan community colleges with reported data show graduates earning $48,000-$53,000 in their first year, suggesting Wayne County may fall in the middle of the state's range.

The estimated $12,804 debt load produces a comfortable 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe less than three months of their first-year salary. This is meaningfully below both the state and national median debt figures for these programs. For context, 28% of Wayne County students receive Pell grants, indicating a substantial population managing educational costs on limited family resources.

The practical takeaway: based on peer programs across Michigan, this associate degree appears to offer reasonable economics—modest debt paired with earnings that exceed most criminal justice programs nationally. The gap between Wayne County's estimated outcomes and the state's top performers (which show reported figures $4,000-$8,000 higher) suggests room for variation, but the fundamental debt-to-earnings relationship looks sound enough to justify enrollment if law enforcement or corrections work aligns with your child's career goals.

Where Wayne County Community College District Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Michigan

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

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Wayne County Community College DistrictDetroit	$3,112	$44,635*	—	$12,804*	—
Northwestern Michigan CollegeTraverse City	$5,350	$52,976*	$40,135	—*	—
Oakland Community CollegeAuburn Hills	$3,020	$51,827*	$62,425	$13,506*	0.26
Schoolcraft Community College DistrictLivonia	$4,448	$49,224*	$59,586	$11,868*	0.24
Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids	$13,630	$48,203*	$58,930	$18,500*	0.38
Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids	$4,059	$48,049*	$39,367	$12,101*	0.25
National Median	—	$33,269*	—	$14,230*	0.43

* 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 Wayne County Community College District, approximately 28% 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 13 similar programs in MI. Actual outcomes may vary.