Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Belleville, IL (2026)
Belleville, Illinois has a population of about 41,722. The city’s median household income is $60,529 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Belleville, with tuition ranging from $30,730 to $49,218 per year. In the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $156,210 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Belleville
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Belleville city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville, IL | 3.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Harris-Stowe State University | Saint Louis, MO | 15.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis, MO | 16.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | Edwardsville, IL | 19.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Webster University | Saint Louis, MO | 20.0 mi | $30,730 - $49,218 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Belleville
Belleville is part of the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area (BLS area code 41180). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Illinois statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $128,070 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $134,669 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $156,210 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $164,259 |
| Police Supervisor | $101,820 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $107,066 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $86,200 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $90,641 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $72,020 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $75,731 |
| Correctional Officer | $54,190 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $56,982 |
| Probation Officer | $47,840 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $50,305 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $64,700 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $68,034 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $58,820 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $61,851 |
| Information Security Analyst | $106,250 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $111,725 |
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.
Belleville at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 41,722 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,529 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 28.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 95.1 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Belleville-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- O’Fallon, IL – 6.8 mi away (29,031 pop)
- East Saint Louis, IL – 10.4 mi away (26,922 pop)
- Collinsville, IL – 11.2 mi away (24,635 pop)
- Saint Louis, MO – 16.3 mi away (2,096,990 pop)
- Granite City, IL – 16.6 mi away (28,908 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Belleville, IL?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Belleville. The closest is Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, IL (3.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Webster University (20.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Belleville?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Belleville are: Judge or Magistrate ($156,210), Attorney ($128,070), Information Security Analyst ($106,250). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Illinois statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in O’Fallon instead of Belleville?
O’Fallon, IL is 6.8 miles from Belleville 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 Belleville an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Belleville’s median household income of $60,529 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Belleville while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois 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 Illinois
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
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