Criminal Justice Degree in Pueblo, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for Pueblo, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$76K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.8 yrs
in Pueblo
Cost of Living
122
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in Pueblo, CO Overview
Pueblo, Colorado (pop. 111,876) has 13 colleges offering Criminal Justice programs. The local cost of living index of 122 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,055/month. Criminal Justice enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Law Enforcement and Criminology. The adjusted starting salary in Pueblo is approximately $61,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$10,380/yr
Private Tuition
$39,631/yr
Room & Board
$16,375/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,147/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
48%
Criminal Justice Salary in Pueblo (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pueblo's cost of living index of 122 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Pueblo adjustment factor: 1.22x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for Pueblo
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local Pueblo tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,380 | Private avg: $39,631
Pueblo avg aid: $7,147/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$107,020
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,300
vs HS diploma in Pueblo
ROI Payback Period
5.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pueblo
$319,980
Lifetime earnings premium ($427,000) minus total education cost ($107,020)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in Pueblo
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pueblo for Criminal Justice
Colorado State University-Pueblo
public
$10,380/yr
$41,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pueblo Community College
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in Pueblo
Pueblo offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pueblo Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Criminal Justice Job Titles
Criminal Justice in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$64K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$63K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$51K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Pueblo
International Relations
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$61K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$61K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$61K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$54K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in Pueblo — 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 Pueblo.