Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Berkeley, CA (2026)
Berkeley, California has a population of about 120,223. The city’s median household income is $108,558 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 75.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Berkeley. In the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $215,090 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Berkeley
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Berkeley city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contra Costa College | San Pablo, CA | 7.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Merritt College | Oakland, CA | 8.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill, CA | 13.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 13.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA | 15.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Berkeley
Berkeley is part of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (BLS area code 41860). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $215,090 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $186,064 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $173,900 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $150,433 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $125,300 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $108,391 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $133,190 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $115,216 |
| Correctional Officer | $100,540 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $86,972 |
| Probation Officer | $131,330 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $113,607 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $103,930 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $89,905 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $85,230 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $73,728 |
| Information Security Analyst | $168,160 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $145,467 |
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.
Berkeley at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 120,223 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $108,558 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 75.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 115.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Berkeley-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- El Cerrito, CA – 3.6 mi away (25,400 pop)
- Richmond, CA – 6.2 mi away (109,813 pop)
- Oakland, CA – 6.5 mi away (420,005 pop)
- San Pablo, CA – 7.2 mi away (30,536 pop)
- Alameda, CA – 7.3 mi away (78,906 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Berkeley, CA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Berkeley. The closest is Contra Costa College in San Pablo, CA (7.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is San Francisco State University (15.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Berkeley?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Berkeley are: Attorney ($215,090), Police Supervisor ($173,900), Information Security Analyst ($168,160). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with California statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in El Cerrito instead of Berkeley?
El Cerrito, CA is 3.6 miles from Berkeley 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 Berkeley an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Berkeley’s median household income of $108,558 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Berkeley while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California 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 California
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
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