Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in San Jose, CA (2026)
San Jose, California has a population of about 990,054. The city’s median household income is $141,565 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 46.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of San Jose. 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 San Jose
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from San Jose city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose State University | San Jose, CA | 2.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Jose City College | San Jose, CA | 4.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Evergreen Valley College | San Jose, CA | 4.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| West Valley College | Saratoga, CA | 9.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mission College | Santa Clara, CA | 9.7 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 San Jose
San Jose is part of the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area (BLS area code 41940). 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 | $179,158 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $168,660 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $152,772 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $156,890 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $142,111 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $150,650 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,458 |
| Correctional Officer | $131,210 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $118,850 |
| Probation Officer | $139,550 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $126,404 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $131,390 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $119,013 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $97,740 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $88,533 |
| Information Security Analyst | $175,520 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $158,986 |
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.
San Jose at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 990,054 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $141,565 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 46.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 110.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other San Jose-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Campbell, CA – 6.0 mi away (40,939 pop)
- Los Gatos, CA – 7.7 mi away (30,545 pop)
- Santa Clara, CA – 7.8 mi away (125,948 pop)
- Milpitas, CA – 9.4 mi away (77,528 pop)
- Saratoga, CA – 10.0 mi away (30,767 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near San Jose, CA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of San Jose. The closest is San Jose State University in San Jose, CA (2.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Mission College (9.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near San Jose?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near San Jose are: Attorney ($197,790), Information Security Analyst ($175,520), Police Supervisor ($168,660). 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 Campbell instead of San Jose?
Campbell, CA is 6.0 miles from San Jose 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 San Jose an affordable place to study criminal justice?
San Jose’s median household income of $141,565 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in San Jose 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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