Criminal Justice Degree in Port St. Lucie, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for Port St. Lucie, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$61K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.6 yrs
in Port St. Lucie
Cost of Living
98.5
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in Port St. Lucie, FL Overview
Port St. Lucie, Florida (pop. 217,573) has 8 colleges offering Criminal Justice programs. The local cost of living index of 98.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,020/month. Criminal Justice enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Law Enforcement and Criminology. The adjusted starting salary in Port St. Lucie is approximately $49,250.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
8
Public Tuition
$6,400/yr
Private Tuition
$30,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,301/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,088/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
55%
Criminal Justice Salary in Port St. Lucie (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Port St. Lucie's cost of living index of 98.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Port St. Lucie adjustment factor: 0.98x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for Port St. Lucie
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local Port St. Lucie tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,400 | Private avg: $30,000
Port St. Lucie avg aid: $9,088/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,804
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,775
vs HS diploma in Port St. Lucie
ROI Payback Period
5.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Port St. Lucie
$261,946
Lifetime earnings premium ($344,750) minus total education cost ($82,804)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in Port St. Lucie
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Port St. Lucie for Criminal Justice
Port St. Lucie State University
public
$6,581/yr
$26,324 total
University of Port St. Lucie
public
$7,114/yr
$28,456 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Port St. Lucie Community College
$5,508/yr
Florida Technical College - Port St. Lucie
$5,038/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in Port St. Lucie
Port St. Lucie offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Port St. Lucie Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Criminal Justice Job Titles
Criminal Justice in Nearby Florida Cities
Jacksonville, FL
$59K starting · COL 117
35 colleges
Miami, FL
$49K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tampa, FL
$51K starting · COL 101
26 colleges
Orlando, FL
$48K starting · COL 96
16 colleges
St. Petersburg, FL
$49K starting · COL 97
22 colleges
Hialeah, FL
$39K starting · COL 78
22 colleges
Tallahassee, FL
$45K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Cape Coral, FL
$49K starting · COL 97.8
7 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Port St. Lucie
International Relations
$49K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$47K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$49K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$49K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$49K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$49K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$43K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$43K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in Port St. Lucie — 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 Port St. Lucie.