Criminal Justice and Corrections at Zane State College

The $8,556 debt burden here is genuinely low—landing at the 86th percentile nationally means 86% of criminal justice associate programs saddle graduates with more debt. But the earnings trajectory tells a puzzling story. Based on comparable Ohio programs, first-year earnings hover around $38,497, yet by year four they've dropped to $31,593. That's a 20% decline when most careers show growth, suggesting graduates may be cycling through entry-level positions or leaving the field entirely.

Context matters: Ohio's criminal justice associate programs cluster tightly around that $38,500 mark, with top performers like North Central State reaching $47,400. Zane State's estimated positioning puts it squarely in the middle of the pack for earnings, while the debt load undercuts the state median by nearly half. The 0.22 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable on paper—you'd owe less than three months' salary—but that calculation assumes the first-year figure holds, which the four-year data strongly suggests it won't.

For parents, this program offers genuine affordability, but the backwards earnings pattern raises questions about career sustainability. Before committing, dig into what's causing that year-four drop: Are graduates advancing into better-paying roles elsewhere, or are they hitting a ceiling? The low debt means financial risk is contained, but you want clarity on whether this credential opens doors that stay open.