Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Brea, CA (2026)
Brea, California has a population of about 47,337. The city’s median household income is $124,837 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 50.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 93 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Brea, with tuition ranging from $1,180 to $19,308 per year for indexed programs. In the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $205,900 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Brea
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 93 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Brea. Distances are calculated from Brea city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | 3.2 mi | $7,073 - $18,953 | – |
| Hope International University | Fullerton, CA | 3.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton, CA | 4.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Platt College-Anaheim | Anaheim, CA | 8.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mt San Antonio College | Walnut, CA | 8.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| UEI College-Garden Grove | Garden Grove, CA | 9.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| UEI College-West Covina | West Covina, CA | 10.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Cypress College | Cypress, CA | 11.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana, CA | 11.6 mi | $1,180 - $11,848 | – |
| Rio Hondo College | Whittier, CA | 11.6 mi | $1,388 - $19,308 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Brea
Brea is part of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (BLS area code 31080). 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 | $205,900 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $181,250 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $169,590 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $149,287 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $127,980 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $112,658 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $115,630 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $101,787 |
| Correctional Officer | $79,710 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $70,167 |
| Probation Officer | $107,530 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $94,657 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $98,110 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $86,364 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $63,110 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $55,555 |
| Information Security Analyst | $131,280 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $115,563 |
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.
Brea at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 47,337 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $124,837 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 50.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Brea-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Placentia, CA – 3.1 mi away (52,228 pop)
- Fullerton, CA – 4.6 mi away (140,721 pop)
- La Habra, CA – 4.9 mi away (61,664 pop)
- Diamond Bar, CA – 5.8 mi away (56,793 pop)
- Yorba Linda, CA – 6.0 mi away (68,235 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Brea, CA?
Our directory has 93 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Brea. The closest is California State University-Fullerton in Fullerton, CA (3.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Rio Hondo College (11.6 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Brea?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Brea are: Attorney ($205,900), Police Supervisor ($169,590), Information Security Analyst ($131,280). 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 Placentia instead of Brea?
Placentia, CA is 3.1 miles from Brea 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 Brea an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Brea’s median household income of $124,837 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Brea 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
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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