Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Fountain Valley, CA (2026)
Fountain Valley, California has a population of about 56,358. The city’s median household income is $111,797 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 44.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Fountain Valley, with tuition ranging from $1,180 to $12,206 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 Fountain Valley
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Fountain Valley city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastline Community College | Fountain Valley, CA | 1.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Golden West College | Huntington Beach, CA | 3.3 mi | $1,196 - $12,206 | – |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana, CA | 4.9 mi | $1,180 - $11,848 | – |
| Platt College-Anaheim | Anaheim, CA | 8.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Cypress College | Cypress, CA | 9.1 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 Fountain Valley
Fountain Valley 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.
Fountain Valley at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 56,358 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $111,797 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 44.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Fountain Valley-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Huntington Beach, CA – 3.1 mi away (200,652 pop)
- Costa Mesa, CA – 3.7 mi away (112,822 pop)
- Westminster, CA – 3.8 mi away (91,565 pop)
- Santa Ana, CA – 4.4 mi away (334,217 pop)
- Garden Grove, CA – 4.7 mi away (174,858 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Fountain Valley, CA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Fountain Valley. The closest is Coastline Community College in Fountain Valley, CA (1.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Cypress College (9.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Fountain Valley?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Fountain Valley 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 Huntington Beach instead of Fountain Valley?
Huntington Beach, CA is 3.1 miles from Fountain Valley 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 Fountain Valley an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Fountain Valley’s median household income of $111,797 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Fountain Valley 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
Back to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in California (2026)
Return to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in California (2026)