Criminal Justice Degree in New Bedford, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for New Bedford, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8 yrs
in New Bedford
Cost of Living
102.5
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in New Bedford, MA Overview
While New Bedford has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Criminal Justice students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,635/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 New Bedford is approximately $51,250.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$16,100/yr
Private Tuition
$48,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,635/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,843/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
63%
Criminal Justice Salary in New Bedford (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for New Bedford's cost of living index of 102.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.New Bedford adjustment factor: 1.02x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for New Bedford
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local New Bedford tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,100 | Private avg: $48,000
New Bedford avg aid: $9,843/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$122,940
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,375
vs HS diploma in New Bedford
ROI Payback Period
8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in New Bedford
$235,810
Lifetime earnings premium ($358,750) minus total education cost ($122,940)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in New Bedford
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in New Bedford for Criminal Justice
New Bedford State University
public
$15,984/yr
$63,936 total
University of New Bedford
public
$18,237/yr
$72,948 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
New Bedford Community College
$5,720/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in New Bedford
New Bedford offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key New Bedford Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Criminal Justice Job Titles
Criminal Justice in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$69K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$59K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$64K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in New Bedford
International Relations
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$49K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$51K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$51K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$51K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$45K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$45K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in New Bedford — 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 New Bedford.