Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Evanston, IL (2026)
Evanston, Illinois has a population of about 76,552. The city’s median household income is $95,766 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 70.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 71 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Evanston, with tuition ranging from $4,920 to $23,713 per year for indexed programs. In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $166,090 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Evanston
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 71 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Evanston. Distances are calculated from Evanston city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, IL | 3.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago, IL | 4.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Park University | Chicago, IL | 5.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College | Chicago, IL | 5.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Chicago, IL | 7.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | 9.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College | Chicago, IL | 11.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Taylor Business Institute | Chicago, IL | 11.6 mi | $12,000 - $23,713 | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago, IL | 11.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Triton College | River Grove, IL | 11.7 mi | $4,920 - $14,880 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Evanston
Evanston is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (BLS area code 16980). 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 | $166,090 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $160,319 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $141,740 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $136,815 |
| Police Supervisor | $136,440 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $131,699 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $102,370 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $98,813 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $108,890 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $105,106 |
| Correctional Officer | $85,400 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $82,432 |
| Probation Officer | $70,820 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $68,359 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $99,670 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $96,207 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $66,930 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $64,604 |
| Information Security Analyst | $116,520 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $112,471 |
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.
Evanston at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 76,552 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $95,766 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 70.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Evanston-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Skokie, IL – 2.5 mi away (64,270 pop)
- Wilmette, IL – 2.7 mi away (27,219 pop)
- Morton Grove, IL – 4.9 mi away (23,227 pop)
- Niles, IL – 6.1 mi away (29,617 pop)
- Glenview, IL – 7.0 mi away (47,475 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Evanston, IL?
Our directory has 71 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Evanston. The closest is Loyola University Chicago in Chicago, IL (3.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Triton College (11.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Evanston?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Evanston are: Attorney ($166,090), Judge or Magistrate ($141,740), Police Supervisor ($136,440). 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 Skokie instead of Evanston?
Skokie, IL is 2.5 miles from Evanston 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 Evanston an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Evanston’s median household income of $95,766 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Evanston 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
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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