Criminology Degree in Silver Spring, MD — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Silver Spring, MD. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$88K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
in Silver Spring
Cost of Living
122.5
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Silver Spring, MD Overview
While Silver Spring has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Criminology students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,215/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 Silver Spring is approximately $63,700.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,800/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,215/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,816/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
75%
Criminology Salary in Silver Spring (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Silver Spring's cost of living index of 122.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Silver Spring adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Silver Spring
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Silver Spring tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,800 | Private avg: $42,000
Silver Spring avg aid: $10,816/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$100,060
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$20,825
vs HS diploma in Silver Spring
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Silver Spring
$512,440
Lifetime earnings premium ($612,500) minus total education cost ($100,060)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Silver Spring
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Silver Spring for Criminology
Silver Spring State University
public
$10,864/yr
$43,456 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Silver Spring Community College
$5,576/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Silver Spring
Silver Spring offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Silver Spring Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Maryland Cities
Baltimore, MD
$68K starting · COL 130
22 colleges
Columbia, MD
$66K starting · COL 127.2
4 colleges
Frederick, MD
$59K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Waldorf, MD
$63K starting · COL 120.7
4 colleges
Ellicott City, MD
$59K starting · COL 114.2
3 colleges
Glen Burnie, MD
$57K starting · COL 108.8
3 colleges
Rockville, MD
$67K starting · COL 128.5
3 colleges
Bethesda, MD
$61K starting · COL 116.7
3 colleges
Criminology Degree in Silver Spring — 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 Silver Spring.