Criminal Justice Degree in Greensboro, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for Greensboro, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.3 yrs
in Greensboro
Cost of Living
91
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in Greensboro, NC Overview
Greensboro, North Carolina (pop. 299,035) has 17 colleges offering Criminal Justice programs. The local cost of living index of 91 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $945/month. Criminal Justice enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Law Enforcement and Criminology. The adjusted starting salary in Greensboro is approximately $45,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
17
Public Tuition
$7,000/yr
Private Tuition
$35,007/yr
Room & Board
$11,140/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,503/yr
Unemployment
4.9%
Graduation Rate
71%
Criminal Justice Salary in Greensboro (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Greensboro's cost of living index of 91 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Greensboro adjustment factor: 0.91x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for Greensboro
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local Greensboro tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,000 | Private avg: $35,007
Greensboro avg aid: $14,503/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$72,560
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,650
vs HS diploma in Greensboro
ROI Payback Period
5.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Greensboro
$245,940
Lifetime earnings premium ($318,500) minus total education cost ($72,560)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in Greensboro
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Greensboro for Criminal Justice
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
public
$7,337/yr
$29,348 total
North Carolina A&T State University
public
$6,662/yr
$26,648 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Guilford Technical Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in Greensboro
Greensboro offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Greensboro Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Criminal Justice Job Titles
Criminal Justice in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$45K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$42K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Durham, NC
$55K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$53K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$45K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$48K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$42K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Greensboro
International Relations
$46K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$44K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$46K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$46K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$46K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$46K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$40K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$40K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in Greensboro — 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 Greensboro.