Criminology Degree in Arlington, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Arlington, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.4 yrs
in Arlington
Cost of Living
93.5
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Arlington, TX Overview
Arlington, Texas (pop. 394,266) has 14 colleges offering Criminology programs. The local cost of living index of 93.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $795/month. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Arlington is approximately $48,620.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,627/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,822/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
51%
Criminology Salary in Arlington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Arlington's cost of living index of 93.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Arlington adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Arlington
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Arlington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Arlington avg aid: $14,822/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,108
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,895
vs HS diploma in Arlington
ROI Payback Period
6.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Arlington
$365,392
Lifetime earnings premium ($467,500) minus total education cost ($102,108)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Arlington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Arlington for Criminology
Arlington State University
public
$11,254/yr
$45,016 total
University of Arlington
public
$12,320/yr
$49,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Arlington Community College
$5,331/yr
Texas Technical College - Arlington
$5,252/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Arlington
Arlington offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Arlington Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$60K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$62K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$54K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$56K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$53K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$48K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$43K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$44K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Criminology Degree in Arlington — 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 Criminology ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Arlington.