Criminal Justice Degree in Cincinnati, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for Cincinnati, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$63K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.5 yrs
in Cincinnati
Cost of Living
102
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in Cincinnati, OH Overview
Cincinnati is one of Ohio's top college towns, with 28 institutions and a student population of 32,655. Public tuition averages $12,226/year here — near the national average for public universities. Criminal Justice enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Law Enforcement and Criminology. The adjusted starting salary in Cincinnati is approximately $51,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
28
Public Tuition
$12,226/yr
Private Tuition
$43,040/yr
Room & Board
$12,772/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,666/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
70%
Criminal Justice Salary in Cincinnati (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cincinnati's cost of living index of 102 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Cincinnati adjustment factor: 1.02x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for Cincinnati
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local Cincinnati tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,226 | Private avg: $43,040
Cincinnati avg aid: $12,666/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$99,992
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,300
vs HS diploma in Cincinnati
ROI Payback Period
6.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cincinnati
$257,008
Lifetime earnings premium ($357,000) minus total education cost ($99,992)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in Cincinnati
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cincinnati for Criminal Justice
University of Cincinnati
public
$12,226/yr
$48,904 total
Xavier University
private
$43,040/yr
$172,160 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
$5,004/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in Cincinnati
Cincinnati offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cincinnati Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Criminal Justice Job Titles
Criminal Justice in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$52K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$48K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Toledo, OH
$54K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$53K starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Dayton, OH
$52K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$45K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$42K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$43K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Cincinnati
International Relations
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$49K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$51K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$51K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$51K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$45K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$45K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in Cincinnati — 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 Cincinnati.