Criminal Justice Degree in Tallahassee, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for Tallahassee, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$55K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
in Tallahassee
Cost of Living
89
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in Tallahassee, FL Overview
Tallahassee, Florida (pop. 196,169) has 11 colleges offering Criminal Justice programs. The local cost of living index of 89 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $733/month. Criminal Justice enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Law Enforcement and Criminology. The adjusted starting salary in Tallahassee is approximately $44,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$6,151/yr
Private Tuition
$31,072/yr
Room & Board
$9,944/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,707/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
61%
Criminal Justice Salary in Tallahassee (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tallahassee's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Tallahassee adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for Tallahassee
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local Tallahassee tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,151 | Private avg: $31,072
Tallahassee avg aid: $12,707/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$64,380
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,350
vs HS diploma in Tallahassee
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tallahassee
$247,120
Lifetime earnings premium ($311,500) minus total education cost ($64,380)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in Tallahassee
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tallahassee for Criminal Justice
Florida State University
public
$6,517/yr
$26,068 total
Florida A&M University
public
$5,785/yr
$23,140 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tallahassee Community College
$3,120/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in Tallahassee
Tallahassee offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tallahassee 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
Port St. Lucie, FL
$49K starting · COL 98.5
8 colleges
Cape Coral, FL
$49K starting · COL 97.8
7 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Tallahassee
International Relations
$45K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$43K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$45K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$45K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$45K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$45K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$39K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$39K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in Tallahassee — 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 Tallahassee.