Criminology Degree in Madison, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Madison, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Madison
Cost of Living
89
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Madison, WI Overview
Madison, Wisconsin (pop. 269,840) has 11 colleges offering Criminology programs. The local cost of living index of 89 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $902/month. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Madison is approximately $46,280.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$10,725/yr
Private Tuition
$33,350/yr
Room & Board
$11,942/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,815/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
73%
Criminology Salary in Madison (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Madison's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Madison adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Madison
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Madison tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,725 | Private avg: $33,350
Madison avg aid: $15,815/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,668
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,130
vs HS diploma in Madison
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Madison
$354,332
Lifetime earnings premium ($445,000) minus total education cost ($90,668)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Madison
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Madison for Criminology
University of Wisconsin-Madison
public
$10,725/yr
$42,900 total
Edgewood College
private
$33,350/yr
$133,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Madison Area Technical College
$4,632/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Madison
Madison offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Madison Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$49K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$45K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$55K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Racine, WI
$45K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$41K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$47K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$45K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$56K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Criminology Degree in Madison — 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 Madison.