Criminal Justice Degree in Fontana, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for Fontana, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$66K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.6 yrs
in Fontana
Cost of Living
106
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in Fontana, CA Overview
Fontana, California (pop. 214,547) has 18 colleges offering Criminal Justice programs. The local cost of living index of 106 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,423/month. Criminal Justice enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Law Enforcement and Criminology. The adjusted starting salary in Fontana is approximately $53,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
18
Public Tuition
$11,333/yr
Private Tuition
$38,840/yr
Room & Board
$18,944/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,336/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
61%
Criminal Justice Salary in Fontana (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fontana's cost of living index of 106 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Fontana adjustment factor: 1.06x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for Fontana
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local Fontana tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,333 | Private avg: $38,840
Fontana avg aid: $11,336/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$121,108
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,900
vs HS diploma in Fontana
ROI Payback Period
7.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fontana
$249,892
Lifetime earnings premium ($371,000) minus total education cost ($121,108)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in Fontana
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fontana for Criminal Justice
California Baptist University Fontana
private
$38,840/yr
$155,360 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Chaffey College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in Fontana
Fontana offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fontana Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Criminal Justice Job Titles
Criminal Justice in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Fontana
International Relations
$53K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$51K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$53K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$53K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$53K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$53K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$47K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$47K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in Fontana — 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 Fontana.