Criminology Degree in Louisville, KY — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Louisville, KY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.4 yrs
in Louisville
Cost of Living
90
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Louisville, KY Overview
Louisville, Kentucky (pop. 633,045) has 17 colleges offering Criminology programs. The local cost of living index of 90 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,349/month. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Louisville is approximately $46,800.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
17
Public Tuition
$12,324/yr
Private Tuition
$37,190/yr
Room & Board
$12,044/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,150/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
58%
Criminology Salary in Louisville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Louisville's cost of living index of 90 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Louisville adjustment factor: 0.90x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Louisville
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Louisville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,324 | Private avg: $37,190
Louisville avg aid: $16,150/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$97,472
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,300
vs HS diploma in Louisville
ROI Payback Period
6.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Louisville
$352,528
Lifetime earnings premium ($450,000) minus total education cost ($97,472)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Louisville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Louisville for Criminology
University of Louisville
public
$12,324/yr
$49,296 total
Bellarmine University
private
$45,790/yr
$183,160 total
Spalding University
private
$28,590/yr
$114,360 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Jefferson Community and Technical College
$4,680/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Louisville
Louisville offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Louisville Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Kentucky Cities
Criminology Degree in Louisville — 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 Louisville.