Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Compton, CA (2026)
Compton, California has a population of about 93,525. The city’s median household income is $74,270 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 10.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 88 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Compton, with tuition ranging from $7,064 to $18,944 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 Compton
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 88 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Compton. Distances are calculated from Compton city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compton College | Compton, CA | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | Carson, CA | 2.5 mi | $7,064 - $18,944 | – |
| UEI College-Gardena | Gardena, CA | 3.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Los Angeles Southwest College | Los Angeles, CA | 5.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| El Camino Community College District | Torrance, CA | 5.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| UEI College-Huntington Park | Huntington Park, CA | 6.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach, CA | 6.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Cerritos College | Norwalk, CA | 7.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Fremont University | Cerritos, CA | 7.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Los Angeles Harbor College | Wilmington, CA | 8.1 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 Compton
Compton 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.
Compton at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 93,525 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $74,270 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 10.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Compton-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Lynwood, CA – 2.6 mi away (71,187 pop)
- Paramount, CA – 3.6 mi away (54,909 pop)
- South Gate, CA – 4.1 mi away (95,538 pop)
- Carson, CA – 4.2 mi away (92,797 pop)
- Gardena, CA – 4.6 mi away (60,048 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Compton, CA?
Our directory has 88 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Compton. The closest is Compton College in Compton, CA (1.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Los Angeles Harbor College (8.1 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Compton?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Compton 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 Lynwood instead of Compton?
Lynwood, CA is 2.6 miles from Compton 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 Compton an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Compton’s median household income of $74,270 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Compton 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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