Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Saint Petersburg, FL (2026)
Saint Petersburg, Florida has a population of about 260,646. The city’s median household income is $73,118 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 41.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Saint Petersburg, with tuition ranging from $2,682 to $10,634 per year. In the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $126,780 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Saint Petersburg
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Saint Petersburg city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg, FL | 2.4 mi | $2,682 - $10,634 | – |
| Hillsborough Community College | Tampa, FL | 16.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| [South University-Tampa](https://www.southuniversity.edu/tampa#location=Tampa, FL) | Tampa, FL | 16.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Manatee Technical College | Bradenton, FL | 21.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Strayer University-Florida | Tampa, FL | 23.4 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 Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area (BLS area code 45300). 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 | $126,780 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $125,649 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | FL statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $110,300 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $109,316 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $91,400 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $90,585 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $74,970 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $74,301 |
| Correctional Officer | $65,290 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $64,708 |
| Probation Officer | $48,530 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $48,097 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $57,950 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $57,433 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $62,420 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $61,863 |
| Information Security Analyst | $104,260 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $103,330 |
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.
Saint Petersburg at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 260,646 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $73,118 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 41.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 100.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Saint Petersburg-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Pinellas Park, FL – 5.2 mi away (52,137 pop)
- Largo, FL – 10.3 mi away (83,065 pop)
- Clearwater, FL – 14.1 mi away (114,361 pop)
- Dunedin, FL – 18.1 mi away (36,381 pop)
- Tampa, FL – 19.3 mi away (2,744,107 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Saint Petersburg, FL?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Saint Petersburg. The closest is St Petersburg College in St. Petersburg, FL (2.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Strayer University-Florida (23.4 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Saint Petersburg?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Saint Petersburg are: Attorney ($126,780), Police Supervisor ($110,300), Information Security Analyst ($104,260). 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 Pinellas Park instead of Saint Petersburg?
Pinellas Park, FL is 5.2 miles from Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Saint Petersburg’s median household income of $73,118 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Saint Petersburg 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)
Return to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Florida (2026)