Criminal Justice Degree in Jackson, MS — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for Jackson, MS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Jackson
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in Jackson, MS Overview
Jackson, Mississippi (pop. 153,701) has 11 colleges offering Criminal Justice programs. The local cost of living index of 93 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $855/month. Criminal Justice enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Law Enforcement and Criminology. The adjusted starting salary in Jackson is approximately $46,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$8,684/yr
Private Tuition
$27,400/yr
Room & Board
$12,839/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,629/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
62%
Criminal Justice Salary in Jackson (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jackson's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Jackson adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for Jackson
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local Jackson tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,684 | Private avg: $27,400
Jackson avg aid: $14,629/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,092
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,950
vs HS diploma in Jackson
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jackson
$239,408
Lifetime earnings premium ($325,500) minus total education cost ($86,092)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in Jackson
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jackson for Criminal Justice
Jackson State University
public
$8,684/yr
$34,736 total
Belhaven University
private
$27,400/yr
$109,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hinds Community College
$3,300/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in Jackson
Jackson offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jackson Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Criminal Justice Job Titles
Criminal Justice in Nearby Mississippi Cities
Other Social Sciences Majors in Jackson
International Relations
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$45K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$47K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$47K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$47K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$41K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$41K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in Jackson — 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 Jackson.