Criminology Degree in Fayetteville, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Fayetteville, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.3 yrs
in Fayetteville
Cost of Living
90
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Fayetteville, NC Overview
Fayetteville, North Carolina (pop. 208,501) has 15 colleges offering Criminology programs. The local cost of living index of 90 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $877/month. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Fayetteville is approximately $46,800.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
15
Public Tuition
$5,925/yr
Private Tuition
$37,000/yr
Room & Board
$10,494/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,488/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
46%
Criminology Salary in Fayetteville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fayetteville's cost of living index of 90 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Fayetteville adjustment factor: 0.90x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Fayetteville
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Fayetteville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $5,925 | Private avg: $37,000
Fayetteville avg aid: $14,488/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$65,676
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,300
vs HS diploma in Fayetteville
ROI Payback Period
4.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fayetteville
$384,324
Lifetime earnings premium ($450,000) minus total education cost ($65,676)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Fayetteville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fayetteville for Criminology
Fayetteville State University
public
$5,925/yr
$23,700 total
Methodist University
private
$37,000/yr
$148,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Fayetteville Technical Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Fayetteville
Fayetteville offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fayetteville Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$46K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$43K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$47K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$57K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$55K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Cary, NC
$56K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$49K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$44K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Criminology Degree in Fayetteville — 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 Fayetteville.