Criminology Degree in Worcester, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminology degree analysis for Worcester, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$84K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.4 yrs
in Worcester
Cost of Living
117
index (100 = avg)
Criminology in Worcester, MA Overview
Worcester, Massachusetts (pop. 206,518) has 11 colleges offering Criminology programs. The local cost of living index of 117 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,228/month. Criminology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Research Methods and Statistics. The adjusted starting salary in Worcester is approximately $60,840.
Category
Social Science
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$16,670/yr
Private Tuition
$56,344/yr
Room & Board
$20,077/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,422/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Criminology Salary in Worcester (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Worcester's cost of living index of 117 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminology salary: $52,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Worcester adjustment factor: 1.17x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminology ROI Calculator for Worcester
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminology degree using local Worcester tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,670 | Private avg: $56,344
Worcester avg aid: $15,422/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$146,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,890
vs HS diploma in Worcester
ROI Payback Period
7.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Worcester
$438,012
Lifetime earnings premium ($585,000) minus total education cost ($146,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminology in Worcester
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Worcester for Criminology
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
private
$56,818/yr
$227,272 total
College of the Holy Cross
private
$55,870/yr
$223,480 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Quinsigamond Community College
$5,760/yr
Top Employers for Criminology in Worcester
Worcester offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Criminology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Worcester Hiring Sectors for Social Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Criminology Job Titles
Criminology in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$71K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Springfield, MA
$69K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$69K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$59K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$56K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$67K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$53K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$62K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Criminology Degree in Worcester — 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 Worcester.