Criminology Degree in Lee's Summit, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Lee's Summit, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$69K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
95.5
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Lee's Summit, MO Overview
While Lee's Summit has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Criminology students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,180/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 Lee's Summit is approximately $49,660.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$30,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,180/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,461/yr
Unemployment
2.8%
Graduation Rate
45%
Criminology Salary in Lee's Summit (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lee's Summit's cost of living index of 95.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Lee's Summit adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Lee's Summit
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Lee's Summit tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $30,000
Lee's Summit avg aid: $8,461/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$97,520
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,235
vs HS diploma in Lee's Summit
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lee's Summit
$379,980
Lifetime earnings premium ($477,500) minus total education cost ($97,520)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Lee's Summit
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lee's Summit for Criminology
Lee's Summit State University
public
$9,311/yr
$37,244 total
University of Lee's Summit
public
$11,299/yr
$45,196 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lee's Summit Community College
$5,472/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lee's Summit Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$49K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$50K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$42K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Columbia, MO
$44K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$45K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
OFallon, MO
$45K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$47K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$43K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Criminology Degree in Lee's Summit — 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 Lee's Summit.