Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in El Monte, CA (2026)
El Monte, California has a population of about 107,066. The city’s median household income is $64,484 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 14.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of El Monte, with tuition ranging from $1,180 to $19,308 per year. 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 El Monte
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from El Monte city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Hondo College | Whittier, CA | 3.7 mi | $1,388 - $19,308 | – |
| Platt College-Los Angeles | Alhambra, CA | 7.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena, CA | 7.0 mi | $1,180 - $12,166 | – |
| East Los Angeles College | Monterey Park, CA | 7.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 7.9 mi | $6,813 - $18,698 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near El Monte
El Monte 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.
El Monte at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 107,066 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $64,484 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 14.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other El Monte-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- South El Monte, CA – 2.0 mi away (20,883 pop)
- Temple City, CA – 2.6 mi away (36,365 pop)
- Rosemead, CA – 3.1 mi away (54,500 pop)
- Baldwin Park, CA – 3.3 mi away (76,464 pop)
- Arcadia, CA – 4.2 mi away (58,523 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near El Monte, CA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of El Monte. The closest is Rio Hondo College in Whittier, CA (3.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is California State University-Los Angeles (7.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near El Monte?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near El Monte 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 South El Monte instead of El Monte?
South El Monte, CA is 2.0 miles from El Monte 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 El Monte an affordable place to study criminal justice?
El Monte’s median household income of $64,484 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in El Monte 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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