Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Foster City, CA (2026)
Foster City, California has a population of about 32,964. The city’s median household income is $193,633 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 74.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Foster City, with tuition ranging from $7,055 to $22,803 per year. 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 Foster City
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Foster City city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of San Mateo | San Mateo, CA | 4.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Chabot College | Hayward, CA | 10.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Skyline College | San Bruno, CA | 12.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State University-East Bay | Hayward, CA | 13.4 mi | $7,055 - $22,803 | – |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 15.5 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 Foster City
Foster City 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.
Foster City at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,964 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $193,633 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 74.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 115.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Foster City-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- San Mateo, CA – 2.5 mi away (103,959 pop)
- Belmont, CA – 3.2 mi away (27,081 pop)
- San Carlos, CA – 3.9 mi away (29,797 pop)
- Redwood City, CA – 4.3 mi away (84,950 pop)
- Burlingame, CA – 5.9 mi away (30,301 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Foster City, CA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Foster City. The closest is College of San Mateo in San Mateo, CA (4.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is City College of San Francisco (15.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Foster City?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Foster City 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 San Mateo instead of Foster City?
San Mateo, CA is 2.5 miles from Foster City 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 Foster City an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Foster City’s median household income of $193,633 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Foster City 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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