Criminology Degree in Fort Lauderdale, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Fort Lauderdale, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$66K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.8 yrs
in Fort Lauderdale
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Fort Lauderdale, FL Overview
While Fort Lauderdale has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Criminology students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $11,777/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Fort Lauderdale is approximately $47,840.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$10,805/yr
Private Tuition
$33,650/yr
Room & Board
$11,777/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,111/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
47%
Criminology Salary in Fort Lauderdale (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Fort Lauderdale adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Fort Lauderdale
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Fort Lauderdale tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,805 | Private avg: $33,650
Fort Lauderdale avg aid: $7,111/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,328
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,640
vs HS diploma in Fort Lauderdale
ROI Payback Period
5.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fort Lauderdale
$369,672
Lifetime earnings premium ($460,000) minus total education cost ($90,328)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Fort Lauderdale
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fort Lauderdale for Criminology
Nova Southeastern University
private
$33,650/yr
$134,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Broward College
$3,120/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fort Lauderdale Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Florida Cities
Jacksonville, FL
$61K starting · COL 117
35 colleges
Miami, FL
$51K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tampa, FL
$53K starting · COL 101
26 colleges
Orlando, FL
$50K starting · COL 96
16 colleges
St. Petersburg, FL
$50K starting · COL 97
22 colleges
Hialeah, FL
$41K starting · COL 78
22 colleges
Port St. Lucie, FL
$51K starting · COL 98.5
8 colleges
Tallahassee, FL
$46K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Other Social Science Majors in Fort Lauderdale
Criminology Degree in Fort Lauderdale — 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 Fort Lauderdale.