Criminal Justice and Corrections at Otero College
CO · Associate's Degree · CIP 43.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Criminal Justice and Corrections degree from Otero College earn a median salary of $49,197 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $46,810. The degree typically pays for itself in 12.7 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
$39,196
Typical Career
$49,197
Top Performers
$61,630
Estimated break-even: 12.7 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$328
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,100. Most students can comfortably afford about a $328 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Colorado buys what costs $1.05 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration, 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
$46,810
Nominal: $49,197 in Colorado (COL 105.1% of national avg) · 4.9% 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 | $30,525 | $41,244 | $51,129 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $39,196 | $49,197 | $61,630 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $42,446 | $56,877 | $73,347 |
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 $49,197 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CO, which has a cost-of-living index of 105.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $49,197 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0510)
= $46,810 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that graduates enter are predominantly within Health Care & Social Assistance, with 39.5% of graduates employed in this sector after one year, followed by 34.7% and 32.2% in subsequent years. Given the estimated break-even point of approximately 12.7 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 the initial earnings may not be significantly high, the long-term financial benefits and industry opportunities can justify the educational investment.
Compare with Another School
See how the Criminal Justice and Corrections degree at Otero College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Criminal Justice and Corrections at Otero College.
Other Degrees at Otero 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.