Criminology Degree in Baton Rouge, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Baton Rouge, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$59K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
82
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Baton Rouge, LA Overview
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (pop. 227,470) has 16 colleges offering Criminology programs. The local cost of living index of 82 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $871/month. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Baton Rouge is approximately $42,640.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$9,889/yr
Private Tuition
$38,908/yr
Room & Board
$13,546/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,166/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
68%
Criminology Salary in Baton Rouge (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Baton Rouge's cost of living index of 82 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Baton Rouge adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Baton Rouge
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Baton Rouge tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,889 | Private avg: $38,908
Baton Rouge avg aid: $9,166/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,740
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,940
vs HS diploma in Baton Rouge
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Baton Rouge
$316,260
Lifetime earnings premium ($410,000) minus total education cost ($93,740)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Baton Rouge
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Baton Rouge for Criminology
Louisiana State University
public
$11,962/yr
$47,848 total
Southern University
public
$7,816/yr
$31,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Baton Rouge Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Baton Rouge Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$47K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$51K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$46K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$54K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$42K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$46K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$48K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Criminology Degree in Baton Rouge — 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 Baton Rouge.