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. Our directory has 72 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Washington, with tuition ranging from $6,152 to $80,727 per year for indexed programs. 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 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 72 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Washington. Distances are calculated from Washington city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus | Washington, DC | 0.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Strayer University-Global Region | Washington, DC | 1.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Strayer University-District of Columbia | Washington, DC | 1.0 mi | $13,920 | – |
| Howard University | Washington, DC | 1.2 mi | $33,344 - $51,450 | – |
| Trinity Washington University | Washington, DC | 1.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| George Washington University | Washington, DC | 1.8 mi | $64,990 - $80,727 | – |
| The Catholic University of America | Washington, DC | 2.2 mi | $55,834 - $73,198 | – |
| University of Management and Technology | Arlington, VA | 3.0 mi | $9,450 | – |
| DeVry University-Virginia | Arlington, VA | 3.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of the District of Columbia | Washington, DC | 3.8 mi | $6,152 - $20,911 | – |
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.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $191,880 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $176,198 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $163,190 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $149,853 |
| Police Supervisor | $124,770 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $114,573 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $153,340 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $140,808 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $83,430 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $76,612 |
| Correctional Officer | $69,040 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $63,398 |
| Probation Officer | $68,750 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $63,131 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $80,300 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $73,737 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $80,550 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $73,967 |
| Information Security Analyst | $138,410 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $127,098 |
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
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 672,079 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $106,287 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 63.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
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 schools are near Washington, DC?
Our directory has 72 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Washington. The closest is University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus in Washington, DC (0.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of the District of Columbia (3.8 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
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
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
Back to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in District Of Columbia (2026)
Return to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in District Of Columbia (2026)