Criminal Justice Degree in Newark, NJ — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for Newark, NJ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$68K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$84K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Newark
Cost of Living
135
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in Newark, NJ Overview
Newark, New Jersey (pop. 311,549) has 14 colleges offering Criminal Justice programs. The local cost of living index of 135 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,595/month. Criminal Justice enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Law Enforcement and Criminology. The adjusted starting salary in Newark is approximately $67,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$16,507/yr
Private Tuition
$47,742/yr
Room & Board
$15,130/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,623/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
74%
Criminal Justice Salary in Newark (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Newark's cost of living index of 135 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Newark adjustment factor: 1.35x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for Newark
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local Newark tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,507 | Private avg: $47,742
Newark avg aid: $8,623/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$126,548
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$20,250
vs HS diploma in Newark
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Newark
$345,952
Lifetime earnings premium ($472,500) minus total education cost ($126,548)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in Newark
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Newark for Criminal Justice
Rutgers University-Newark
public
$14,974/yr
$59,896 total
New Jersey Institute of Technology
public
$18,040/yr
$72,160 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Essex County College
$5,040/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in Newark
Newark offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Newark Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Criminal Justice Job Titles
Criminal Justice in Nearby New Jersey Cities
Jersey City, NJ
$64K starting · COL 127
23 colleges
Paterson, NJ
$65K starting · COL 129
5 colleges
Elizabeth, NJ
$58K starting · COL 115.5
6 colleges
Edison, NJ
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Lakewood, NJ
$64K starting · COL 128.8
5 colleges
Woodbridge, NJ
$56K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Toms River, NJ
$59K starting · COL 117.7
4 colleges
Trenton, NJ
$67K starting · COL 134
8 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Newark
International Relations
$68K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$65K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$68K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$68K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$68K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$68K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$59K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$59K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in Newark — 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 Newark.