Criminology Degree in Jackson, MS — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Jackson, MS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.4 yrs
in Jackson
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Jackson, MS Overview
Jackson, Mississippi (pop. 153,701) has 11 colleges offering Criminology programs. The local cost of living index of 93 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $855/month. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Jackson is approximately $48,360.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$8,684/yr
Private Tuition
$27,400/yr
Room & Board
$12,839/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,629/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
62%
Criminology Salary in Jackson (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jackson's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Jackson adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Jackson
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Jackson tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,684 | Private avg: $27,400
Jackson avg aid: $14,629/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,092
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,810
vs HS diploma in Jackson
ROI Payback Period
5.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jackson
$378,908
Lifetime earnings premium ($465,000) minus total education cost ($86,092)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Jackson
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jackson for Criminology
Jackson State University
public
$8,684/yr
$34,736 total
Belhaven University
private
$27,400/yr
$109,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hinds Community College
$3,300/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Jackson
Jackson offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jackson Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Mississippi Cities
Other Social Science Majors in Jackson
Criminology Degree in Jackson — 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 Jackson.