Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Hartford, CT (2026)

Hartford, Connecticut has a population of about 119,970. The city’s median household income is $45,300 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Hartford, with tuition ranging from $37,227 to $47,064 per year. In Connecticut, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $211,420 annually (BLS, May 2024).


Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Hartford

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

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Connecticut State Community CollegeHartford, CT0.6 miContact school for pricing
Goodwin UniversityEast Hartford, CT2.4 miContact school for pricing
Central Connecticut State UniversityNew Britain, CT6.6 miContact school for pricing
Charter Oak State CollegeNew Britain, CT8.5 miContact school for pricing
Bay Path UniversityLongmeadow, MA20.7 mi$37,227 - $47,064

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


Criminal Justice Wages Near Hartford

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Connecticut, statewide)
Attorney$159,240
Judge or Magistrate$211,420
Police Supervisor$110,460
Detective or Criminal Investigator$95,420
Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$82,820
Correctional Officer$62,690
Probation Officer$94,600
Forensic Science Technician$84,920
Paralegal or Legal Assistant$63,260
Information Security Analyst$130,500

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.


Hartford at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population119,970Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$45,300Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+18.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Hartford-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Hartford, CT?

Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Hartford. The closest is Connecticut State Community College in Hartford, CT (0.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Bay Path University (20.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles in Connecticut?

Based on BLS May 2024 state wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles in Connecticut are: Judge or Magistrate ($211,420), Attorney ($159,240), Information Security Analyst ($130,500). Wages for Hartford workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in New Britain instead of Hartford?

New Britain, CT is 8.2 miles from Hartford 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 Hartford an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Hartford’s median household income of $45,300 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hartford while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Connecticut 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.