Criminology Degree in Lake Charles, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Lake Charles, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.9 yrs
in Lake Charles
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Lake Charles, LA Overview
Lake Charles, Louisiana (pop. 84,872) has 6 colleges offering Criminology programs. The local cost of living index of 80 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $925/month. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Lake Charles is approximately $41,600.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$9,274/yr
Private Tuition
$41,023/yr
Room & Board
$14,078/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,078/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
56%
Criminology Salary in Lake Charles (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lake Charles's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Lake Charles adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Lake Charles
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Lake Charles tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,274 | Private avg: $41,023
Lake Charles avg aid: $16,078/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,408
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,600
vs HS diploma in Lake Charles
ROI Payback Period
6.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lake Charles
$306,592
Lifetime earnings premium ($400,000) minus total education cost ($93,408)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Lake Charles
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lake Charles for Criminology
McNeese State University
public
$9,274/yr
$37,096 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sowela Technical Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Lake Charles
Lake Charles offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lake Charles Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$47K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$43K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$51K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$46K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$54K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$46K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$48K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Criminology Degree in Lake Charles — 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 Lake Charles.