Criminal Justice Degree in Savannah, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for Savannah, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$59K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.4 yrs
in Savannah
Cost of Living
95
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in Savannah, GA Overview
Savannah, Georgia (pop. 147,780) has 12 colleges offering Criminal Justice programs. The local cost of living index of 95 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,169/month. Criminal Justice enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Law Enforcement and Criminology. The adjusted starting salary in Savannah is approximately $47,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$6,268/yr
Private Tuition
$39,765/yr
Room & Board
$13,088/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,756/yr
Unemployment
6.4%
Graduation Rate
64%
Criminal Justice Salary in Savannah (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Savannah's cost of living index of 95 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Savannah adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for Savannah
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local Savannah tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,268 | Private avg: $39,765
Savannah avg aid: $9,756/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$77,424
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,250
vs HS diploma in Savannah
ROI Payback Period
5.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Savannah
$255,076
Lifetime earnings premium ($332,500) minus total education cost ($77,424)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in Savannah
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Savannah for Criminal Justice
Savannah College of Art and Design
private
$39,765/yr
$159,060 total
Savannah State University
public
$6,268/yr
$25,072 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Savannah Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in Savannah
Savannah offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Savannah Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Criminal Justice Job Titles
Criminal Justice in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$51K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$42K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$42K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Macon, GA
$51K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Athens, GA
$52K starting · COL 103
11 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$54K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Savannah
International Relations
$48K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$46K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$48K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$48K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$48K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$48K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$42K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$42K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in Savannah — 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 Savannah.