Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Santa Cruz, CA (2026)
Santa Cruz, California has a population of about 60,953. The city’s median household income is $111,427 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 57.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Santa Cruz. In the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $192,800 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Santa Cruz
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Santa Cruz city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabrillo College | Aptos, CA | 6.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| West Valley College | Saratoga, CA | 19.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| De Anza College | Cupertino, CA | 23.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Jose City College | San Jose, CA | 24.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Gavilan College | Gilroy, CA | 25.7 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 Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is part of the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area (BLS area code 42100). 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 | $192,800 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $175,432 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $158,430 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $144,158 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $107,060 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $97,416 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $123,140 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $112,047 |
| Correctional Officer | $81,910 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $74,531 |
| Probation Officer | $107,050 | CA statewide | $97,407 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $96,850 | CA statewide | $88,126 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $62,460 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $56,833 |
| Information Security Analyst | $93,580 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $85,150 |
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 Cruz at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 60,953 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $111,427 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 57.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 109.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Santa Cruz-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Watsonville, CA – 15.1 mi away (77,266 pop)
- Los Gatos, CA – 17.9 mi away (30,545 pop)
- Saratoga, CA – 20.0 mi away (30,767 pop)
- Campbell, CA – 21.3 mi away (40,939 pop)
- Cupertino, CA – 23.4 mi away (60,643 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Santa Cruz, CA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Santa Cruz. The closest is Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA (6.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Gavilan College (25.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Santa Cruz?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Santa Cruz are: Attorney ($192,800), Police Supervisor ($158,430), Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($123,140). 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 Watsonville instead of Santa Cruz?
Watsonville, CA is 15.1 miles from Santa Cruz 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 Cruz an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Santa Cruz’s median household income of $111,427 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Santa Cruz 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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