Criminal Justice and Corrections at Polk State College

Winter Haven, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
63 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
64
Optimistic
63
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,808/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 37.0x earnings multiple (10.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #43 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $499K $499K $464K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 37.1x 37.0x 34.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.2x 10.2x 9.5x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 64 63 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$13,464
Out-of-state: $49,088 (10.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$36,108
-168% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,998
3.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,499
21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $40,808 per year, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from Polk State College earn slightly above the $38,544 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 37.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 36% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $12,998 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

A #43 ranking out of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs nationally puts Polk State College in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $40,808 to $49,499 shows 21% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Polk State College

enrolling 5,954 students in Winter Haven, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at Polk State College →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
First-line supervisors of police and detectives $105,980/yr
Detectives and criminal investigators $93,580/yr
View all 20 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice and Corrections at Other Schools

Other Majors at Polk State College

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Polk State College's Criminal Justice and Corrections program score?
This program scores 63/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →