Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Van Buren, AR (2026)
Van Buren, Arkansas has a population of about 23,545. The city’s median household income is $59,420 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 19.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 21 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Van Buren, with tuition ranging from $9,748 to $30,407 per year for indexed programs. In Arkansas, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $192,910 annually (BLS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Van Buren
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 21 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Van Buren. Distances are calculated from Van Buren city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 4.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Carl Albert State College | Poteau, OK | 32.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 44.1 mi | $9,748 - $28,772 | – |
| Northeastern State University | Tahlequah, OK | 47.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 52.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Connors State College | Warner, OK | 54.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee | Muskogee, OK | 58.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bacone College | Muskogee, OK | 59.6 mi | $15,060 - $30,407 | – |
| NorthWest Arkansas Community College | Bentonville, AR | 63.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Eastern Oklahoma State College | Wilburton, OK | 66.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arkansas schools on the Arkansas criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Van Buren
Van Buren is part of the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area (BLS area code 22900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arkansas statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $102,280 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $119,069 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $192,910 | AR statewide | $224,575 |
| Police Supervisor | $72,580 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $84,494 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $53,460 | AR statewide | $62,235 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $45,270 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $52,701 |
| Correctional Officer | $34,190 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $39,802 |
| Probation Officer | $38,310 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $44,598 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $46,210 | AR statewide | $53,795 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $49,000 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $57,043 |
| Information Security Analyst | $93,560 | AR statewide | $108,917 |
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.
Van Buren at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,545 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $59,420 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 19.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 85.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Van Buren-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Fort Smith, AR – 6.9 mi away (125,699 pop)
- Fayetteville, AR – 44.3 mi away (336,152 pop)
- Siloam Springs, AR – 51.8 mi away (21,136 pop)
- Springdale, AR – 52.4 mi away (78,557 pop)
- Muskogee, OK – 60.0 mi away (41,117 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Van Buren, AR?
Our directory has 21 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Van Buren. The closest is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR (4.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Eastern Oklahoma State College (66.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Van Buren?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Van Buren are: Judge or Magistrate ($192,910), Attorney ($102,280), Information Security Analyst ($93,560). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arkansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Fort Smith instead of Van Buren?
Fort Smith, AR is 6.9 miles from Van Buren 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 Van Buren an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Van Buren’s median household income of $59,420 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Van Buren 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.
Related Resources
- Online Criminal Justice Programs in Arkansas
- 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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