Criminology Degree in Athens, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Athens, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$74K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.1 yrs
in Athens
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Athens, GA Overview
Athens, Georgia (pop. 127,064) has 11 colleges offering Criminology programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $743/month. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Athens is approximately $53,560.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$12,080/yr
Private Tuition
$42,791/yr
Room & Board
$10,251/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,146/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
50%
Criminology Salary in Athens (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Athens's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Athens adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Athens
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Athens tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,080 | Private avg: $42,791
Athens avg aid: $13,146/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,324
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,510
vs HS diploma in Athens
ROI Payback Period
5.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Athens
$425,676
Lifetime earnings premium ($515,000) minus total education cost ($89,324)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Athens
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Athens for Criminology
University of Georgia
public
$12,080/yr
$48,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Athens Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Athens
Athens offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Athens Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$53K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$44K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$43K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Macon, GA
$53K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Savannah, GA
$49K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$59K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$56K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$59K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Criminology Degree in Athens — 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 Athens.