Criminology Degree in Spokane, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Spokane, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$63K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$87K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.1 yrs
in Spokane
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Spokane, WA Overview
Spokane, Washington (pop. 228,989) has 20 colleges offering Criminology programs. The local cost of living index of 121 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,678/month. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Spokane is approximately $62,920.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$13,119/yr
Private Tuition
$49,320/yr
Room & Board
$13,236/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,489/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
61%
Criminology Salary in Spokane (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Spokane's cost of living index of 121 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Spokane adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Spokane
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Spokane tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,119 | Private avg: $49,320
Spokane avg aid: $8,489/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,420
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$20,570
vs HS diploma in Spokane
ROI Payback Period
5.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Spokane
$499,580
Lifetime earnings premium ($605,000) minus total education cost ($105,420)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Spokane
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Spokane for Criminology
Gonzaga University
private
$50,380/yr
$201,520 total
Whitworth University
private
$48,260/yr
$193,040 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Spokane Falls Community College
$4,479/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Spokane
Spokane offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Spokane Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$62K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$59K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$56K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$93K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$60K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$61K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$64K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$64K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Criminology Degree in Spokane — 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 Spokane.