Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Grand Junction, CO (2026)

Grand Junction, Colorado has a population of about 67,027. The city’s median household income is $66,676 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 3 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Grand Junction, with tuition ranging from $2,700 to $13,717 per year. In Colorado, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $191,640 annually (BLS, May 2024).


Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Grand Junction

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Grand Junction city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand Junction, CO0.7 miContact school for pricing
Technical College of the RockiesDelta, CO35.7 miContact school for pricing
Colorado Mountain CollegeGlenwood Springs, CO73.6 mi$2,700 - $13,717

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Colorado schools on the Colorado criminal justice page.


Criminal Justice Wages Near Grand Junction

Grand Junction is part of the Grand Junction, CO metro area (BLS area code 24300). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Colorado statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Attorney$102,550Grand Junction, CO$107,382
Judge or Magistrate$191,640CO statewide$200,670
Police Supervisor$113,090Grand Junction, CO$118,419
Detective or Criminal Investigator$95,490Grand Junction, CO$99,990
Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$85,960Grand Junction, CO$90,010
Correctional Officer$60,670CO statewide$63,529
Probation Officer$66,770CO statewide$69,916
Forensic Science Technician$77,800CO statewide$81,466
Paralegal or Legal Assistant$60,810Grand Junction, CO$63,675
Information Security Analyst$101,990Grand Junction, CO$106,796

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.


Grand Junction at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population67,027Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$66,676Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+36.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)95.5 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Grand Junction-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Grand Junction, CO?

Our directory lists 3 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Grand Junction. The closest is Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO (0.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Colorado Mountain College (73.6 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Grand Junction?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Grand Junction are: Judge or Magistrate ($191,640), Police Supervisor ($113,090), Attorney ($102,550). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Colorado statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Montrose instead of Grand Junction?

Montrose, CO is 57.3 miles from Grand Junction 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 Grand Junction an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Grand Junction’s median household income of $66,676 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Grand Junction while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Colorado 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.