Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Hoover, AL (2026)

Hoover, Alabama has a population of about 92,401. The city’s median household income is $107,822 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 60.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Hoover, with tuition ranging from $13,920 to $23,838 per year. In the Birmingham, AL metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $152,240 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Hoover

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Hoover city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Herzing University-BirminghamBirmingham, AL6.6 miContact school for pricing
Lawson State Community CollegeBirmingham, AL6.9 miContact school for pricing
Miles CollegeFairfield, AL9.4 miContact school for pricing
Strayer University-AlabamaBirmingham, AL9.5 mi$13,920 - $23,838
Jefferson State Community CollegeBirmingham, AL18.1 miContact school for pricing

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Alabama schools on the Alabama criminal justice page.


Criminal Justice Wages Near Hoover

Hoover is part of the Birmingham, AL metro area (BLS area code 13820). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Alabama statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Attorney$152,240Birmingham, AL$166,201
Judge or Magistrate$51,520Birmingham, AL$56,245
Police Supervisor$90,200Birmingham, AL$98,472
Detective or Criminal Investigator$76,580Birmingham, AL$83,603
Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$61,050Birmingham, AL$66,648
Correctional Officer$54,050Birmingham, AL$59,007
Probation Officer$56,960Birmingham, AL$62,183
Forensic Science Technician$66,020Birmingham, AL$72,074
Paralegal or Legal Assistant$57,540Birmingham, AL$62,817
Information Security Analyst$100,950Birmingham, AL$110,207

Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Hoover at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population92,401Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$107,822Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+60.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)91.6 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Hoover-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Hoover, AL?

Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Hoover. The closest is Herzing University-Birmingham in Birmingham, AL (6.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Jefferson State Community College (18.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Hoover?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Hoover are: Attorney ($152,240), Information Security Analyst ($100,950), Police Supervisor ($90,200). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Alabama statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Pelham instead of Hoover?

Pelham, AL is 5.3 miles from Hoover and has its own set of local criminal justice programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Hoover an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Hoover’s median household income of $107,822 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hoover while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Alabama public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.