Criminology Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, and the criminal justice system.
Starting Salary
$52K
median
Mid-Career
$72K
salary
ROI Payback
3.5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
3%
rate
Criminology Overview
Scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, and the criminal justice system.
Category
Social Science
Degree Level
Bachelor's/Master's
Graduation Rate
78%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
5%
Lifetime Premium
$500K
Female Graduates
55%
Criminology Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$17,100
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$17,100
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$482,900
Lifetime earnings premium ($500,000) minus net degree cost ($17,100)
Criminology Salary Progression
Common Criminology Careers
Criminologist
Crime Analyst
Policy Researcher
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Criminology
#1
University of Maryland
#2
University of Cincinnati
#3
Penn State
#4
Florida State
#5
Sam Houston State
Related Majors
Criminology Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
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