Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Edwardsville, IL (2026)
Edwardsville, Illinois has a population of about 26,543. The city’s median household income is $92,671 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 54.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Edwardsville. 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 Edwardsville
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Edwardsville city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | Edwardsville, IL | 0.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis, MO | 15.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey, IL | 15.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Harris-Stowe State University | Saint Louis, MO | 16.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville, IL | 19.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Edwardsville
Edwardsville 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.
Edwardsville at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,543 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $92,671 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 54.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 95.1 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Edwardsville-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Collinsville, IL – 8.0 mi away (24,635 pop)
- Granite City, IL – 8.6 mi away (28,908 pop)
- Alton, IL – 11.7 mi away (80,871 pop)
- O’Fallon, IL – 14.1 mi away (29,031 pop)
- East Saint Louis, IL – 14.4 mi away (26,922 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Edwardsville, IL?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Edwardsville. The closest is Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville in Edwardsville, IL (0.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Southwestern Illinois College (19.4 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Edwardsville?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Edwardsville 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 Collinsville instead of Edwardsville?
Collinsville, IL is 8.0 miles from Edwardsville 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 Edwardsville an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Edwardsville’s median household income of $92,671 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Edwardsville 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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