Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in South San Francisco, CA (2026)
South San Francisco, California has a population of about 64,487. The city’s median household income is $135,909 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 40.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of South San Francisco. 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 South San Francisco
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from South San Francisco city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skyline College | San Bruno, CA | 3.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 5.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA | 5.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| College of San Mateo | San Mateo, CA | 9.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Merritt College | Oakland, CA | 16.7 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 South San Francisco
South San Francisco 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.
South San Francisco at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 64,487 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $135,909 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 40.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 115.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other South San Francisco-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- San Bruno, CA – 2.1 mi away (42,957 pop)
- Daly City, CA – 3.5 mi away (106,472 pop)
- Millbrae, CA – 3.9 mi away (22,661 pop)
- Pacifica, CA – 4.3 mi away (39,062 pop)
- Burlingame, CA – 5.5 mi away (30,301 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near South San Francisco, CA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of South San Francisco. The closest is Skyline College in San Bruno, CA (3.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Merritt College (16.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near South San Francisco?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near South San Francisco 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 San Bruno instead of South San Francisco?
San Bruno, CA is 2.1 miles from South San Francisco 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 South San Francisco an affordable place to study criminal justice?
South San Francisco’s median household income of $135,909 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in South San Francisco 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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