Certificate (1-2 years)-4% vs national median190 grads tracked
Criminal Justice and Corrections at Oakton College
Ranked 27th of 73 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Criminal Justice and Corrections by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$34,388
middle 50%: $23,880 – $48,315
Median · 5 years out
$54,286
middle 50%: $35,441 – $75,372
Median · 10 years out
$69,917
middle 50%: $48,030 – $91,385
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Criminal Justice and Corrections (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Criminal Justice certificate holders earn a median of $34,388 initially. Salaries reach $69,917 by year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7.9 yrs
≈ $9,464 total interest
Same major at other universities
Pueblo Community College
$58,026 · 5 yrs out
Columbus State University
$56,577 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
$55,817 · 5 yrs out
South Suburban College
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
Richland Community College
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
Stark State College
$54,993 · 5 yrs out
Germanna Community College
$53,767 · 5 yrs out
Eastfield College
$52,636 · 5 yrs out
Klamath Community College
$52,636 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan Community College
$52,490 · 5 yrs out
Kaskaskia College
$51,929 · 5 yrs out
College of Lake County
$51,828 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Oakton College
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$96,354 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$94,549 · 5 yrs out
Computer Software and Media Applications (Certificate)
$92,948 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$83,533 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$82,614 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Certificate)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$77,343 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Certificate)
$77,146 · 5 yrs out
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