Criminal Justice and Corrections at Manchester Community College
CT · Associate's Degree · CIP 43.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Criminal Justice and Corrections degree from Manchester Community College earn a median salary of $56,601 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CT, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $49,090. The degree typically pays for itself in 9.4 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$39,425
Typical Career
$56,601
Top Performers
$77,631
Estimated break-even: 9.4 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$377
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,717. Most students can comfortably afford about a $377 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.5x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Connecticut buys what costs $1.15 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Finance & Insurance, Retail Trade.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$49,090
Nominal: $56,601 in Connecticut (COL 115.3% of national avg) · 13.3% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $25,660 | $36,536 | $51,083 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $39,425 | $56,601 | $77,631 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $51,976 | $72,481 | $96,448 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $56,601 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CT, which has a cost-of-living index of 115.3% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $56,601 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1530)
= $49,090 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The majority of graduates enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, with 32.8%, 24.6%, and 18.8% of graduates working in this field at various stages. Given the estimated break-even point of approximately 10.6 years compared to a high school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections appears favorable. This suggests that while initial earnings may be modest, the long-term financial benefits and job opportunities in growing industries can justify the educational commitment.
Compare with Another School
See how the Criminal Justice and Corrections degree at Manchester Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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Other Degrees at Manchester Community College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.