Criminal Justice Degree in Springfield, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for Springfield, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$40K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$50K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.2 yrs
in Springfield
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in Springfield, MO Overview
While Springfield has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Criminal Justice students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $13,383/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 Springfield is approximately $40,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,210/yr
Private Tuition
$33,330/yr
Room & Board
$13,383/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,942/yr
Unemployment
3.2%
Graduation Rate
52%
Criminal Justice Salary in Springfield (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Springfield's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Springfield adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for Springfield
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local Springfield tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,210 | Private avg: $33,330
Springfield avg aid: $13,942/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,372
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,000
vs HS diploma in Springfield
ROI Payback Period
7.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Springfield
$193,628
Lifetime earnings premium ($280,000) minus total education cost ($86,372)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in Springfield
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Springfield for Criminal Justice
Missouri State University
public
$8,210/yr
$32,840 total
Drury University
private
$33,330/yr
$133,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ozarks Technical Community College
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in Springfield
Springfield offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Springfield Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Criminal Justice Job Titles
Criminal Justice in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$47K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$49K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Columbia, MO
$42K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$43K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$48K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$44K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$45K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$42K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Springfield
International Relations
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$38K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$40K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$40K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$40K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$35K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$35K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in Springfield — 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 Springfield.