Criminology Degree in Salt Lake City, UT — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Salt Lake City, UT. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$81K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.7 yrs
in Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
112
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Salt Lake City, UT Overview
While Salt Lake City has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Criminology students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $17,800/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 Salt Lake City is approximately $58,240.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$9,222/yr
Private Tuition
$38,396/yr
Room & Board
$17,800/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,636/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
52%
Criminology Salary in Salt Lake City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Salt Lake City's cost of living index of 112 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Salt Lake City adjustment factor: 1.12x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Salt Lake City
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Salt Lake City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,222 | Private avg: $38,396
Salt Lake City avg aid: $10,636/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$108,088
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,040
vs HS diploma in Salt Lake City
ROI Payback Period
5.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Salt Lake City
$451,912
Lifetime earnings premium ($560,000) minus total education cost ($108,088)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Salt Lake City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Salt Lake City for Criminology
University of Utah
public
$9,222/yr
$36,888 total
Westminster University
private
$38,396/yr
$153,584 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Salt Lake Community College
$4,116/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Salt Lake City Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Utah Cities
West Valley City, UT
$51K starting · COL 98.5
6 colleges
West Jordan, UT
$52K starting · COL 99.8
5 colleges
Provo, UT
$68K starting · COL 130
7 colleges
Orem, UT
$63K starting · COL 122
4 colleges
Sandy, UT
$54K starting · COL 103.8
4 colleges
St. George, UT
$65K starting · COL 125
2 colleges
Ogden, UT
$54K starting · COL 103
5 colleges
Layton, UT
$51K starting · COL 97.8
4 colleges
Other Social Science Majors in Salt Lake City
Criminology Degree in Salt Lake City — 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 Salt Lake City.