Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Fort Pierce, FL (2026)
Fort Pierce, Florida has a population of about 48,094. The city’s median household income is $46,745 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Fort Pierce, with tuition ranging from $3,050 to $16,741 per year. In the Port St. Lucie, FL metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $128,000 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Fort Pierce
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Fort Pierce city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian River State College | Fort Pierce, FL | 1.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| [South University-West Palm Beach](https://www.southuniversity.edu/west-palm-beach#location=West Palm Beach, FL) | Royal Palm Beach, FL | 51.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Eastern Florida State College | Melbourne, FL | 55.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Palm Beach State College | Lake Worth, FL | 58.3 mi | $3,050 - $16,741 | – |
| South Florida State College | Avon Park, FL | 72.8 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 Pierce
Fort Pierce is part of the Port St. Lucie, FL metro area (BLS area code 38940). 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 | $128,000 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $127,745 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | FL statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $112,880 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $112,655 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $75,920 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $75,768 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $77,980 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $77,824 |
| Correctional Officer | $47,330 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $47,236 |
| Probation Officer | $48,960 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $48,862 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $64,440 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $64,311 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $59,050 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $58,932 |
| Information Security Analyst | $107,000 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $106,786 |
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 Pierce at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 48,094 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $46,745 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 18.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 100.2 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Fort Pierce-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Port Saint Lucie, FL – 10.5 mi away (422,966 pop)
- Sebastian, FL – 26.4 mi away (24,772 pop)
- Okeechobee, FL – 32.6 mi away (25,692 pop)
- Jupiter, FL – 37.8 mi away (63,813 pop)
- Palm Beach Gardens, FL – 41.3 mi away (53,778 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Fort Pierce, FL?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Fort Pierce. The closest is Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, FL (1.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is South Florida State College (72.8 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Fort Pierce?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Fort Pierce are: Attorney ($128,000), Police Supervisor ($112,880), Information Security Analyst ($107,000). 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 Port Saint Lucie instead of Fort Pierce?
Port Saint Lucie, FL is 10.5 miles from Fort Pierce 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 Pierce an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Fort Pierce’s median household income of $46,745 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Fort Pierce 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
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