Best Criminology Degrees in California by ROI
Colleges in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in California
7
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$233,654
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$37,127
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Massachusetts Global | +$3,151 | $50,567 | $33,365 | $25,725 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
University of California-Irvine
Grad rate: 86.3% |
-$125,521 | $44,019 | $36,121 | $15,865 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
California State University-San Marcos
Grad rate: 55.3% |
-$170,169 | $38,720 | $21,144 | $14,810 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Mount Saint Mary's University
Grad rate: 56.7% |
-$246,626 | $44,857 | $64,637 | $33,495 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
California State University-Fresno
Grad rate: 55.5% |
-$273,783 | $32,768 | $18,650 | $10,773 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
University of La Verne
Grad rate: 64.4% |
-$349,116 | $38,612 | $61,564 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Grad rate: 46.1% |
-$473,514 | $24,344 | $24,412 | $16,849 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Criminology Degrees by State
Browse Criminology programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.