Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Surprise, AZ (2026)
Surprise, Arizona has a population of about 149,519. The city’s median household income is $93,371 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 31.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 22 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Surprise, with tuition ranging from $2,358 to $17,872 per year for indexed programs. In the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $135,600 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Surprise
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 22 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Surprise. Distances are calculated from Surprise city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estrella Mountain Community College | Avondale, AZ | 15.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Glendale Community College | Glendale, AZ | 16.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| DeVry University-Arizona | Phoenix, AZ | 21.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 21.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Phoenix College | Phoenix, AZ | 25.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Paradise Valley Community College | Phoenix, AZ | 25.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| GateWay Community College | Phoenix, AZ | 30.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Phoenix-Arizona | Phoenix, AZ | 31.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| South Mountain Community College | Phoenix, AZ | 31.8 mi | $2,358 - $17,872 | – |
| Aspen University | Phoenix, AZ | 32.9 mi | $6,264 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arizona schools on the Arizona criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Surprise
Surprise is part of the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area (BLS area code 38060). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arizona statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $135,600 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $131,268 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | AZ statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $114,520 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $110,862 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $94,970 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $91,936 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $91,600 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $88,674 |
| Correctional Officer | $56,060 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $54,269 |
| Probation Officer | $61,140 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $59,187 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $62,420 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $60,426 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $62,700 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $60,697 |
| Information Security Analyst | $130,390 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $126,225 |
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.
Surprise at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 149,519 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $93,371 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 31.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.3 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Surprise-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- El Mirage, AZ – 9.5 mi away (35,043 pop)
- Peoria, AZ – 11.4 mi away (164,173 pop)
- Glendale, AZ – 14.8 mi away (245,895 pop)
- Buckeye, AZ – 20.4 mi away (64,629 pop)
- Avondale, AZ – 21.7 mi away (214,235 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Surprise, AZ?
Our directory has 22 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Surprise. The closest is Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale, AZ (15.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Aspen University (32.9 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Surprise?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Surprise are: Attorney ($135,600), Information Security Analyst ($130,390), Police Supervisor ($114,520). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arizona statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in El Mirage instead of Surprise?
El Mirage, AZ is 9.5 miles from Surprise 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 Surprise an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Surprise’s median household income of $93,371 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Surprise while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arizona 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.
Related Resources
- Online Criminal Justice Programs in Arizona
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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