Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in San Mateo, CA (2026)
San Mateo, California has a population of about 103,555. The city’s median household income is $152,669 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 57.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of San Mateo. 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 San Mateo
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from San Mateo city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of San Mateo | San Mateo, CA | 1.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Skyline College | San Bruno, CA | 10.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Chabot College | Hayward, CA | 13.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 14.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA | 14.9 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 Mateo
San Mateo 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.
San Mateo at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 103,555 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $152,669 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 57.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 115.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other San Mateo-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Foster City, CA – 2.5 mi away (34,175 pop)
- Belmont, CA – 2.7 mi away (27,081 pop)
- Burlingame, CA – 3.8 mi away (30,301 pop)
- San Carlos, CA – 4.4 mi away (29,797 pop)
- Redwood City, CA – 5.9 mi away (84,950 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near San Mateo, CA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of San Mateo. The closest is College of San Mateo in San Mateo, CA (1.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is San Francisco State University (14.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near San Mateo?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near San Mateo 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 Foster City instead of San Mateo?
Foster City, CA is 2.5 miles from San Mateo 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 Mateo an affordable place to study criminal justice?
San Mateo’s median household income of $152,669 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in San Mateo 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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