Criminal Justice Degree in Augusta, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for Augusta, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$51K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Augusta
Cost of Living
83
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in Augusta, GA Overview
Augusta, Georgia (pop. 202,081) has 11 colleges offering Criminal Justice programs. The local cost of living index of 83 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $848/month. Criminal Justice enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Law Enforcement and Criminology. The adjusted starting salary in Augusta is approximately $41,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$9,540/yr
Private Tuition
$30,837/yr
Room & Board
$9,609/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,269/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
56%
Criminal Justice Salary in Augusta (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Augusta's cost of living index of 83 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Augusta adjustment factor: 0.83x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for Augusta
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local Augusta tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,540 | Private avg: $30,837
Augusta avg aid: $12,269/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$76,596
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,450
vs HS diploma in Augusta
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Augusta
$213,904
Lifetime earnings premium ($290,500) minus total education cost ($76,596)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in Augusta
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Augusta for Criminal Justice
Augusta University
public
$9,540/yr
$38,160 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Augusta Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in Augusta
Augusta offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Augusta Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Criminal Justice Job Titles
Criminal Justice in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$51K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$42K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Macon, GA
$51K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Savannah, GA
$48K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Athens, GA
$52K starting · COL 103
11 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$54K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Augusta
International Relations
$42K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$40K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$42K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$42K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$42K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$42K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$37K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$37K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in Augusta — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Criminal Justice ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Augusta.