Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Sacramento, CA (2026)
Sacramento, California has a population of about 524,802. The city’s median household income is $83,753 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 48 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Sacramento, with tuition ranging from $1,288 to $46,024 per year for indexed programs. In the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $171,120 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Sacramento
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 48 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Sacramento. Distances are calculated from Sacramento city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento City College | Sacramento, CA | 2.2 mi | $1,288 - $13,062 | – |
| California State University-Sacramento | Sacramento, CA | 2.5 mi | $7,602 - $22,714 | – |
| Carrington College-Sacramento | Sacramento, CA | 5.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Cosumnes River College | Sacramento, CA | 8.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| American River College | Sacramento, CA | 8.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of California-Davis | Davis, CA | 15.3 mi | $15,247 - $46,024 | – |
| Woodland Community College | Woodland, CA | 15.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Folsom Lake College | Folsom, CA | 19.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| William Jessup University | Rocklin, CA | 19.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Sierra College | Rocklin, CA | 20.8 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 Sacramento
Sacramento is part of the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area (BLS area code 40900). 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 | $171,120 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $160,375 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $158,230 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $148,294 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $109,830 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $102,933 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $112,630 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $105,558 |
| Correctional Officer | $86,930 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $81,471 |
| Probation Officer | $100,120 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $93,833 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $96,770 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $90,694 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $77,170 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $72,324 |
| Information Security Analyst | $132,030 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $123,739 |
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.
Sacramento at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 524,802 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $83,753 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 36.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 106.7 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Sacramento-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- West Sacramento, CA – 4.5 mi away (52,981 pop)
- Elk Grove, CA – 11.4 mi away (169,743 pop)
- Rancho Cordova, CA – 11.7 mi away (72,326 pop)
- Citrus Heights, CA – 13.2 mi away (87,432 pop)
- Davis, CA – 14.5 mi away (75,553 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Sacramento, CA?
Our directory has 48 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Sacramento. The closest is Sacramento City College in Sacramento, CA (2.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Sierra College (20.8 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Sacramento?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Sacramento are: Attorney ($171,120), Police Supervisor ($158,230), Information Security Analyst ($132,030). 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 West Sacramento instead of Sacramento?
West Sacramento, CA is 4.5 miles from Sacramento 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 Sacramento an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Sacramento’s median household income of $83,753 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Sacramento 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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