Criminology Degree in Elgin, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Elgin, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$57K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Elgin
Cost of Living
79
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Elgin, IL Overview
Elgin, Illinois (pop. 114,797) has 13 colleges offering Criminology programs. The local cost of living index of 79 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,008/month. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Elgin is approximately $41,080.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$10,014/yr
Private Tuition
$30,900/yr
Room & Board
$9,983/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,897/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
47%
Criminology Salary in Elgin (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Elgin's cost of living index of 79 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Elgin adjustment factor: 0.79x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Elgin
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Elgin tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,014 | Private avg: $30,900
Elgin avg aid: $15,897/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,430
vs HS diploma in Elgin
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Elgin
$315,012
Lifetime earnings premium ($395,000) minus total education cost ($79,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Elgin
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Elgin for Criminology
Judson University
private
$30,900/yr
$123,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Elgin Community College
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Elgin
Elgin offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Elgin Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$57K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Aurora, IL
$48K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$56K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$53K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$47K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Springfield, IL
$48K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$54K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$47K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Criminology Degree in Elgin — 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 Elgin.