Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Santa Clarita, CA (2026)
Santa Clarita, California has a population of about 229,021. The city’s median household income is $119,926 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 39.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Santa Clarita, with tuition ranging from $7,095 to $20,317 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 Santa Clarita
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Santa Clarita city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Canyons | Santa Clarita, CA | 3.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Los Angeles Mission College | Sylmar, CA | 8.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State University-Northridge | Northridge, CA | 11.6 mi | $7,095 - $20,317 | – |
| Los Angeles Pierce College | Woodland Hills, CA | 16.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Woodbury University | Burbank, CA | 16.9 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 Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita 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.
Santa Clarita at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 229,021 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $119,926 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 39.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Santa Clarita-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- San Fernando, CA – 9.3 mi away (24,717 pop)
- Simi Valley, CA – 17.2 mi away (127,308 pop)
- Burbank, CA – 18.6 mi away (104,447 pop)
- Calabasas, CA – 21.2 mi away (24,176 pop)
- Los Angeles, CA – 21.3 mi away (12,740,381 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Santa Clarita, CA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Santa Clarita. The closest is College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, CA (3.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Woodbury University (16.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Santa Clarita?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Santa Clarita 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 San Fernando instead of Santa Clarita?
San Fernando, CA is 9.3 miles from Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Santa Clarita’s median household income of $119,926 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Santa Clarita 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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