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Criminology Degree in Chula Vista, CA — Salary & ROI 2026

Criminology degree analysis for Chula Vista, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$63K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$88K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

3.1 yrs

in Chula Vista

Cost of Living

122

index (100 = avg)

Criminology in Chula Vista, CA Overview

Chula Vista is one of California's top college towns, with 25 institutions and a student population of 22,971. Public tuition averages $1,540/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Chula Vista is approximately $63,440.

Category

Social Science

Local Colleges

25

Public Tuition

$1,540/yr

Private Tuition

$46,515/yr

Room & Board

$14,719/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$11,403/yr

Unemployment

5.6%

Graduation Rate

65%

Criminology Salary in Chula Vista (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Chula Vista's cost of living index of 122 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$63,440(+$11,440 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$87,840(+$15,840 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$115,900(+$20,900 vs national)

Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Chula Vista adjustment factor: 1.22x based on the local cost of living index.

Criminology ROI Calculator for Chula Vista

Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Chula Vista tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $1,540 | Private avg: $46,515

Chula Vista avg aid: $11,403/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$65,036

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$20,740

vs HS diploma in Chula Vista

ROI Payback Period

3.1 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Chula Vista

$544,964

Lifetime earnings premium ($610,000) minus total education cost ($65,036)

Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Chula Vista

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$65,036
Monthly Payment$738
Total Interest$23,580
% of Monthly Income14%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$65,036
Monthly Payment$1,273
Total Interest$11,314
Interest Savings$12,266

Colleges in Chula Vista for Criminology

Southwestern College

public

$1,540/yr

$6,160 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Southwestern College

$1,540/yr

Top Employers for Criminology in Chula Vista

Chula Vista offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:

FBIDEACorrectionsResearch institutes

Key Chula Vista Hiring Sectors for Social Science

Tech companies

Research labs

Government agencies

Startups

Consulting firms

Common Criminology Job Titles

CriminologistCrime AnalystPolicy Researcher

Other Social Science Majors in Chula Vista

Criminology Degree in Chula Vista — 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 Chula Vista.

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