Criminal Justice Degree in Franklin, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for Franklin, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$59K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$73K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.8 yrs
in Franklin
Cost of Living
118.5
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in Franklin, TN Overview
While Franklin has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Criminal Justice students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,807/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Criminal Justice enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Law Enforcement and Criminology. The adjusted starting salary in Franklin is approximately $59,250.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,100/yr
Private Tuition
$32,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,807/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,962/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
56%
Criminal Justice Salary in Franklin (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Franklin's cost of living index of 118.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Franklin adjustment factor: 1.19x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for Franklin
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local Franklin tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,100 | Private avg: $32,000
Franklin avg aid: $15,962/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,628
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,775
vs HS diploma in Franklin
ROI Payback Period
5.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Franklin
$311,122
Lifetime earnings premium ($414,750) minus total education cost ($103,628)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in Franklin
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Franklin for Criminal Justice
Franklin State University
public
$10,603/yr
$42,412 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Franklin Community College
$5,615/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in Franklin
Franklin offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Franklin Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Criminal Justice Job Titles
Criminal Justice in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$46K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Memphis, TN
$47K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Knoxville, TN
$43K starting · COL 85
5 colleges
Chattanooga, TN
$40K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$45K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$46K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Jackson, TN
$41K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$53K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Franklin
International Relations
$59K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$57K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$59K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$59K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$59K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$52K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in Franklin — 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 Franklin.