Criminology Degree in Wilmington, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Wilmington, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$68K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.2 yrs
in Wilmington
Cost of Living
95
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Wilmington, NC Overview
While Wilmington has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Criminology students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $9,779/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 Wilmington is approximately $49,400.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$7,287/yr
Private Tuition
$34,393/yr
Room & Board
$9,779/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,831/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
48%
Criminology Salary in Wilmington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wilmington's cost of living index of 95 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Wilmington adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Wilmington
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Wilmington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,287 | Private avg: $34,393
Wilmington avg aid: $13,831/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$68,264
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,150
vs HS diploma in Wilmington
ROI Payback Period
4.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wilmington
$406,736
Lifetime earnings premium ($475,000) minus total education cost ($68,264)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Wilmington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wilmington for Criminology
University of North Carolina Wilmington
public
$7,287/yr
$29,148 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cape Fear Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Wilmington
Wilmington offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wilmington Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$46K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$43K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$47K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$57K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$55K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$47K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$56K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
High Point, NC
$44K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Criminology Degree in Wilmington — 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 Wilmington.