North Carolina · Criminal Justice and Corrections

Best Criminal Justice and Corrections institutions in North Carolina, ranked by earnings

The Criminal Justice and Corrections program focuses on the various functions carried out by government agencies related to the punishment, treatment, and supervision of individuals convicted of crimes. This program is ideal for students…

Institutions
93
offering CIP 43.01
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
3,913
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$47,748
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
45
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,585
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
44%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Correctional Officers and Jailers
$50,450
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Cape Fear Community College
Wilmington Public · Certificate degree
$52,2825734%$16,042
2Gaston College
Dallas Public · Certificate degree
$50,0389263%
3Durham Technical Community College
Durham Public · Certificate degree
$49,8934345%$17,750
4Forsyth Technical Community College
Winston-Salem Public · Certificate degree
$48,3885834%$21,066
5Wilson Community College
Wilson Public · Certificate degree
$48,3043827%$17,060
6South Piedmont Community College
Polkton Public · Certificate degree
$47,7482438%$17,823
7Mitchell Community College
Statesville Public · Certificate degree
$47,0012928%
8Rowan - Cabarrus Community College
Salisbury Public · Certificate degree
$46,9932035%$10,625
9Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte Public · Associate degree
$44,61612931%
10Western Piedmont Community College
Morganton Public · Certificate degree
$44,3974049%

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-7.8%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~30,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$57,970
typically High school diploma or equivalent

Top skills

Active ListeningMonitoringSpeakingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive Learning

What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in North Carolina

Jobs in North Carolina
11,780
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$50,450
median $49,080
Best-paying metro
$55,390
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

Related careers

Security Guards
$40,600 avg · 29,360 jobs
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
$60,520 avg · 21,650 jobs
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$59,010 avg · 13,960 jobs
Correctional Officers and Jailers
$50,450 avg · 11,780 jobs
Compliance Officers
$82,190 avg · 9,080 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in North Carolina.

Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Cape Fear Community College tops the list at $52,282. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in North Carolina?+

The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in North Carolina is $50,450 (median $49,080), across about 11,780 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

What is the focus of the Criminal Justice and Corrections program?+

The Criminal Justice and Corrections program focuses on the various functions carried out by government agencies related to the punishment, treatment, and supervision of individuals convicted of crimes. This program is ideal for students…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop active listening, monitoring, speaking, critical thinking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Correctional Officers and Jailers?+

The national job outlook is about -7.8% growth with around 30,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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