Criminology Degree in Mesquite, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Mesquite, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$66K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Mesquite
Cost of Living
92.3
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Mesquite, TX Overview
Mesquite, Texas (pop. 150,108) has 6 colleges offering Criminology programs. The local cost of living index of 92.3 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $720/month. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Mesquite is approximately $47,996.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,260/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,026/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
58%
Criminology Salary in Mesquite (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Mesquite's cost of living index of 92.3 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Mesquite adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Mesquite
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Mesquite tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Mesquite avg aid: $8,026/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$96,640
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,691
vs HS diploma in Mesquite
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Mesquite
$364,860
Lifetime earnings premium ($461,500) minus total education cost ($96,640)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Mesquite
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Mesquite for Criminology
Mesquite State University
public
$10,808/yr
$43,232 total
University of Mesquite
public
$11,881/yr
$47,524 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Mesquite Community College
$5,670/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Mesquite
Mesquite offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Mesquite Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$60K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$62K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$54K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$56K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$53K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$48K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$49K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$43K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other Social Science Majors in Mesquite
Criminology Degree in Mesquite — 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 Mesquite.