Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Fort Lauderdale, FL (2026)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida has a population of about 183,032. The city’s median household income is $79,935 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 39.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Fort Lauderdale. In the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Police Supervisor at a median $130,010 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Fort Lauderdale
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Fort Lauderdale city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broward College | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 3.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 3.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | 16.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| St. Thomas University | Miami Gardens, FL | 16.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Florida schools on the Florida criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is part of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area (BLS area code 33100). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Florida statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $129,920 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $113,765 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | FL statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $130,010 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $113,844 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $113,800 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $99,650 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $94,290 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $82,566 |
| Correctional Officer | $68,100 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $59,632 |
| Probation Officer | $52,710 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $46,156 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $74,190 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $64,965 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $63,050 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $55,210 |
| Information Security Analyst | $107,260 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $93,923 |
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.
Fort Lauderdale at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 183,032 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $79,935 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 39.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 114.2 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Fort Lauderdale-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Oakland Park, FL – 2.6 mi away (44,326 pop)
- Lauderdale Lakes, FL – 3.9 mi away (34,790 pop)
- Lauderhill, FL – 5.0 mi away (71,626 pop)
- Dania Beach, FL – 5.8 mi away (31,422 pop)
- North Lauderdale, FL – 6.7 mi away (43,699 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Fort Lauderdale, FL?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Fort Lauderdale. The closest is Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, FL (1.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is St. Thomas University (16.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Fort Lauderdale?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Fort Lauderdale are: Police Supervisor ($130,010), Attorney ($129,920), Detective or Criminal Investigator ($113,800). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Florida statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Oakland Park instead of Fort Lauderdale?
Oakland Park, FL is 2.6 miles from Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Fort Lauderdale’s median household income of $79,935 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Fort Lauderdale while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Florida 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 Florida
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
Back to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Florida (2026)
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