Criminology Degree in Richmond, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Richmond, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$72K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Richmond
Cost of Living
100
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Richmond, VA Overview
Richmond, Virginia (pop. 226,610) has 11 colleges offering Criminology programs. The local cost of living index of 100 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $737/month. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Richmond is approximately $52,000.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$14,676/yr
Private Tuition
$58,570/yr
Room & Board
$10,932/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,068/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
65%
Criminology Salary in Richmond (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Richmond's cost of living index of 100 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Richmond adjustment factor: 1.00x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Richmond
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Richmond tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,676 | Private avg: $58,570
Richmond avg aid: $9,068/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,000
vs HS diploma in Richmond
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Richmond
$397,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($500,000) minus total education cost ($102,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Richmond
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Richmond for Criminology
Virginia Commonwealth University
public
$14,676/yr
$58,704 total
University of Richmond
private
$58,570/yr
$234,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Reynolds Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Richmond
Richmond offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Richmond Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$46K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$47K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$74K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$48K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Newport News, VA
$48K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$53K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$50K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$46K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Criminology Degree in Richmond — 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 Richmond.