Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Washington, DC (2026)

Washington, District of Columbia has a population of about 672,079. The city’s median household income is $106,287 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 63.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Washington, with tuition ranging from $13,920 to $80,727 per year. In the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $191,880 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Washington

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

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

Criminal Justice Wages Near Washington

Washington is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (BLS area code 47900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to District of Columbia statewide.

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.

Washington at a Glance

Other Washington-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs

• Alexandria, VA – 7.0 mi away (155,810 pop)
• College Park, MD – 7.7 mi away (32,275 pop)
• Greenbelt, MD – 9.3 mi away (23,909 pop)
• Rockville, MD – 14.4 mi away (66,940 pop)
• Bowie, MD – 15.2 mi away (58,393 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Washington, DC?

Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Washington. The closest is George Washington University in Washington, DC (0.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Trinity Washington University (1.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Washington?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Washington are: Attorney ($191,880), Judge or Magistrate ($163,190), Detective or Criminal Investigator ($153,340). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with District of Columbia statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Alexandria instead of Washington?

Alexandria, VA is 7.0 miles from Washington 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 Washington an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Washington’s median household income of $106,287 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Washington while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia
• Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
• Criminal Justice Programs by State