Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Paragould, AR (2026)

Paragould, Arkansas has 5 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs, with tuition ranging from $7,754 to $22,823 per year for indexed programs. Paragould has a population of about 29,940. Median household income is $56,181 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Arkansas, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Information Security Analyst at a median $103,490 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Paragould

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Paragould, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Paragould city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Paragould. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Arkansas State University

Jonesboro, AR 17.1 miles from Paragould BOC Score 51.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 82%
Graduation rate 55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,617
Avg net price $12,366/yr
Tuition
In‑state$8,090
Out‑of‑state$14,522
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 76

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Harding University

Searcy, AR 88.1 miles from Paragould BOC Score 63.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,876
Avg net price $22,130/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 56

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Strayer University-Arkansas

Little Rock, AR 134.1 miles from Paragould BOC Score 18.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 10%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,092
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 50%
  • Programs offered: 16

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Arkansas Baptist College

Little Rock, AR 134.7 miles from Paragould BOC Score 29.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 8%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $28,418
Avg net price $10,627/yr
Tuition
In‑state$8,760
Out‑of‑state$8,760
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 22%
  • Programs offered: 6

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Philander Smith University

Little Rock, AR 134.8 miles from Paragould BOC Score 36.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 39%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $38,427
Avg net price $14,224/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 67%
  • Programs offered: 8

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

University of Arkansas Grantham

LIttle Rock, AR 135.6 miles from Paragould BOC Score 49.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 22%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,496
Avg net price $8,370/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 28%
  • Programs offered: 31

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Little Rock, AR 138.0 miles from Paragould BOC Score 42.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 59%
Graduation rate 42%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,265
Avg net price $17,248/yr
Tuition
In‑state$9,748
Out‑of‑state$22,158
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 54

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Pine Bluff, AR 151.2 miles from Paragould BOC Score 38.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 41%
Graduation rate 40%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $35,550
Avg net price $12,653/yr
Tuition
In‑state$9,412
Out‑of‑state$17,992
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 64%
  • Programs offered: 17

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Criminal Justice Wages Near Paragould

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Arkansas, statewide)
Attorney$98,880
Judge or MagistrateN/A
Police Supervisor$62,290
Detective or Criminal Investigator$54,500
Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$47,670
Correctional Officer$40,330
Probation Officer$51,180
Forensic Science Technician$44,670
Paralegal or Legal Assistant$47,420
Information Security Analyst$103,490

Source: BLS, May 2025 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.


Paragould at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population29,940Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$56,181Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+16.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Paragould-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Paragould, AR?

Accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Paragould are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles in Arkansas?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles in Arkansas are: Information Security Analyst ($103,490), Attorney ($98,880), Police Supervisor ($62,290). Wages for Paragould workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Jonesboro instead of Paragould?

Jonesboro, AR is 18.7 miles from Paragould 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 Paragould an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Paragould’s median household income of $56,181 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Paragould while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arkansas 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.


Learn More About Criminal Justice Programs

Other Programs Available in Paragould

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Paragould:

Data verified: July 23, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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.