Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Wasco, CA (2026)
Wasco, California has a population of about 26,222. The city’s median household income is $55,521 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 7.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Wasco, with tuition ranging from $1,409 to $12,522 per year. In the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $134,280 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Wasco
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Wasco city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA | 22.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield, CA | 25.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Taft College | Taft, CA | 31.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Porterville College | Porterville, CA | 37.1 mi | $1,409 - $12,522 | – |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia, CA | 50.6 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 Wasco
Wasco is part of the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area (BLS area code 12540). 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 | $134,280 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $133,082 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | CA statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $124,760 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $123,647 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $100,030 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $99,138 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $79,050 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $78,345 |
| Correctional Officer | $104,090 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $103,162 |
| Probation Officer | $107,050 | CA statewide | $106,095 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $75,480 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $74,807 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $60,250 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $59,713 |
| Information Security Analyst | $98,740 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $97,859 |
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.
Wasco at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,222 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $55,521 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 7.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 100.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Wasco-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Shafter, CA – 12.4 mi away (20,183 pop)
- Delano, CA – 13.3 mi away (54,030 pop)
- Bakersfield, CA – 25.0 mi away (567,585 pop)
- Corcoran, CA – 35.6 mi away (23,266 pop)
- Porterville, CA – 37.5 mi away (76,512 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Wasco, CA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Wasco. The closest is California State University-Bakersfield in Bakersfield, CA (22.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is College of the Sequoias (50.6 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Wasco?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Wasco are: Attorney ($134,280), Police Supervisor ($124,760), Probation Officer ($107,050). 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 Shafter instead of Wasco?
Shafter, CA is 12.4 miles from Wasco 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 Wasco an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Wasco’s median household income of $55,521 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Wasco 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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