Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in McDonough, GA (2026)
McDonough, Georgia has a population of about 30,056. The city’s median household income is $77,734 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 27.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 46 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near McDonough, with tuition ranging from $13,420 to $27,195 per year for indexed programs. In the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $141,790 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to McDonough
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 46 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near McDonough. Distances are calculated from McDonough city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton State University | Morrow, GA | 14.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southern Crescent Technical College | Griffin, GA | 15.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Atlanta Metropolitan State College | Atlanta, GA | 23.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Atlanta Technical College | Atlanta, GA | 23.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| DeVry University-Georgia | Decatur, GA | 24.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Georgia Piedmont Technical College | Clarkston, GA | 24.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 25.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Herzing University-Atlanta | Atlanta, GA | 25.6 mi | $13,420 - $27,195 | – |
| Clark Atlanta University | Atlanta, GA | 26.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Gordon State College | Barnesville, GA | 27.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Georgia schools on the Georgia criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near McDonough
McDonough is part of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area (BLS area code 12060). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Georgia statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $128,910 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $128,781 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $141,790 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $141,648 |
| Police Supervisor | $80,960 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $80,879 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $65,320 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $65,255 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $60,990 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $60,929 |
| Correctional Officer | $48,450 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $48,402 |
| Probation Officer | $55,090 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $55,035 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $60,870 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $60,809 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $59,810 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $59,750 |
| Information Security Analyst | $126,880 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $126,753 |
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.
McDonough at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 30,056 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $77,734 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 27.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 100.1 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other McDonough-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Stockbridge, GA – 7.5 mi away (28,677 pop)
- Griffin, GA – 15.4 mi away (22,928 pop)
- East Point, GA – 24.3 mi away (35,471 pop)
- Decatur, GA – 24.4 mi away (22,813 pop)
- Peachtree City, GA – 24.4 mi away (35,186 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near McDonough, GA?
Our directory has 46 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near McDonough. The closest is Clayton State University in Morrow, GA (14.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Gordon State College (27.2 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near McDonough?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near McDonough are: Judge or Magistrate ($141,790), Attorney ($128,910), Information Security Analyst ($126,880). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Georgia statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Stockbridge instead of McDonough?
Stockbridge, GA is 7.5 miles from McDonough 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 McDonough an affordable place to study criminal justice?
McDonough’s median household income of $77,734 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in McDonough while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Georgia 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 Georgia
- 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.
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