Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Palm Springs, CA (2026)
Palm Springs, California has a population of about 44,998. The city’s median household income is $71,979 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 45.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Palm Springs. In California, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $197,790 annually (BLS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Palm Springs
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Palm Springs city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Desert | Palm Desert, CA | 8.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District | San Jacinto, CA | 24.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Copper Mountain Community College | Joshua Tree, CA | 26.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Moreno Valley College | Moreno Valley, CA | 38.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Platt College-Riverside | Riverside, CA | 44.6 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 Palm Springs
Palm Springs is part of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (BLS area code 40140). 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 | $197,790 | CA statewide | $185,893 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $159,820 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $150,207 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $126,380 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $118,778 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $106,850 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $100,423 |
| Correctional Officer | $93,690 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $88,055 |
| Probation Officer | $98,690 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $92,754 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $79,910 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $75,103 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $58,440 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $54,925 |
| Information Security Analyst | $124,910 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $117,397 |
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.
Palm Springs at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,998 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $71,979 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 45.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 106.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Palm Springs-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Cathedral City, CA – 4.8 mi away (54,056 pop)
- Palm Desert, CA – 10.6 mi away (52,231 pop)
- Desert Hot Springs, CA – 10.6 mi away (43,327 pop)
- Indio, CA – 18.0 mi away (402,166 pop)
- La Quinta, CA – 18.1 mi away (40,956 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Palm Springs, CA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Palm Springs. The closest is College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA (8.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Platt College-Riverside (44.6 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Palm Springs?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Palm Springs are: Attorney ($197,790), Police Supervisor ($159,820), Detective or Criminal Investigator ($126,380). 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 Cathedral City instead of Palm Springs?
Cathedral City, CA is 4.8 miles from Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Palm Springs’s median household income of $71,979 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Palm Springs 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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