Criminology Degree in Eugene, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Eugene, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$68K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$94K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.7 yrs
in Eugene
Cost of Living
130
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Eugene, OR Overview
Eugene, Oregon (pop. 176,654) has 14 colleges offering Criminology programs. The local cost of living index of 130 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,157/month. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Eugene is approximately $67,600.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$12,720/yr
Private Tuition
$33,710/yr
Room & Board
$18,672/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,904/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
68%
Criminology Salary in Eugene (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Eugene's cost of living index of 130 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Eugene adjustment factor: 1.30x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Eugene
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Eugene tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,720 | Private avg: $33,710
Eugene avg aid: $14,904/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$125,568
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,100
vs HS diploma in Eugene
ROI Payback Period
5.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Eugene
$524,432
Lifetime earnings premium ($650,000) minus total education cost ($125,568)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Eugene
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Eugene for Criminology
University of Oregon
public
$12,720/yr
$50,880 total
Northwest Christian University
private
$33,710/yr
$134,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lane Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Eugene
Eugene offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Eugene Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$58K starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Salem, OR
$62K starting · COL 120
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$57K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$60K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$56K starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$55K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Medford, OR
$58K starting · COL 111
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$63K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Criminology Degree in Eugene — 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 Eugene.