Criminology Degree in New Bedford, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for New Bedford, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$74K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.1 yrs
in New Bedford
Cost of Living
102.5
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in New Bedford, MA Overview
While New Bedford has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Criminology students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,635/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 New Bedford is approximately $53,300.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$16,100/yr
Private Tuition
$48,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,635/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,843/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
63%
Criminology Salary in New Bedford (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for New Bedford's cost of living index of 102.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.New Bedford adjustment factor: 1.02x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for New Bedford
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local New Bedford tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,100 | Private avg: $48,000
New Bedford avg aid: $9,843/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$122,940
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,425
vs HS diploma in New Bedford
ROI Payback Period
7.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in New Bedford
$389,560
Lifetime earnings premium ($512,500) minus total education cost ($122,940)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in New Bedford
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in New Bedford for Criminology
New Bedford State University
public
$15,984/yr
$63,936 total
University of New Bedford
public
$18,237/yr
$72,948 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
New Bedford Community College
$5,720/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in New Bedford
New Bedford offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key New Bedford Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$71K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$61K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$69K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$69K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$59K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$56K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$67K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$62K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Criminology Degree in New Bedford — 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 New Bedford.