Criminology Degree in Jersey City, NJ — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Jersey City, NJ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$66K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$91K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.4 yrs
in Jersey City
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Jersey City, NJ Overview
Jersey City is one of New Jersey's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 26,694. Public tuition averages $12,750/year here — near the national average for public universities. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Jersey City is approximately $66,040.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$12,750/yr
Private Tuition
$40,360/yr
Room & Board
$21,714/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,349/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
50%
Criminology Salary in Jersey City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jersey City's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Jersey City adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Jersey City
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Jersey City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,750 | Private avg: $40,360
Jersey City avg aid: $10,349/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,856
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,590
vs HS diploma in Jersey City
ROI Payback Period
6.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jersey City
$497,144
Lifetime earnings premium ($635,000) minus total education cost ($137,856)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Jersey City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jersey City for Criminology
Saint Peter's University
private
$40,360/yr
$161,440 total
New Jersey City University
public
$12,750/yr
$51,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hudson County Community College
$5,040/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Jersey City
Jersey City offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jersey City Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby New Jersey Cities
Newark, NJ
$70K starting · COL 135
14 colleges
Paterson, NJ
$67K starting · COL 129
5 colleges
Elizabeth, NJ
$60K starting · COL 115.5
6 colleges
Edison, NJ
$61K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Lakewood, NJ
$67K starting · COL 128.8
5 colleges
Woodbridge, NJ
$59K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Toms River, NJ
$61K starting · COL 117.7
4 colleges
Trenton, NJ
$70K starting · COL 134
8 colleges
Other Social Science Majors in Jersey City
Criminology Degree in Jersey City — 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 Jersey City.