Criminal Justice Degree in Colorado Springs, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for Colorado Springs, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$76K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
122
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in Colorado Springs, CO Overview
Colorado Springs is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 22,576. Public tuition averages $5,325/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Criminal Justice enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Law Enforcement and Criminology. The adjusted starting salary in Colorado Springs is approximately $61,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$5,325/yr
Private Tuition
$62,070/yr
Room & Board
$15,455/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,479/yr
Unemployment
5%
Graduation Rate
71%
Criminal Justice Salary in Colorado Springs (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Colorado Springs's cost of living index of 122 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Colorado Springs adjustment factor: 1.22x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for Colorado Springs
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local Colorado Springs tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $5,325 | Private avg: $62,070
Colorado Springs avg aid: $13,479/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$83,120
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,300
vs HS diploma in Colorado Springs
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Colorado Springs
$343,880
Lifetime earnings premium ($427,000) minus total education cost ($83,120)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in Colorado Springs
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Colorado Springs for Criminal Justice
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
public
$10,650/yr
$42,600 total
Colorado College
private
$62,070/yr
$248,280 total
United States Air Force Academy
public
$0/yr
$0 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pikes Peak State College
$4,056/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Colorado Springs Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Criminal Justice Job Titles
Criminal Justice in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$64K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$63K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$51K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Colorado Springs
International Relations
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$61K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$61K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$61K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$54K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in Colorado Springs — 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 Colorado Springs.