Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Melrose Park, IL (2026)
Melrose Park, Illinois has a population of about 24,513. The city’s median household income is $64,740 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 14.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 72 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Melrose Park, with tuition ranging from $4,920 to $29,360 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 Melrose Park
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 72 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Melrose Park. Distances are calculated from Melrose Park city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triton College | River Grove, IL | 1.5 mi | $4,920 - $14,880 | – |
| Concordia University-Chicago | River Forest, IL | 2.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, IL | 4.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Chicago, IL | 5.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Morton College | Cicero, IL | 7.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago, IL | 9.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Park University | Chicago, IL | 9.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago, IL | 9.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | 11.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, IL | 11.2 mi | $14,338 - $29,360 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Melrose Park
Melrose Park 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.
Melrose Park at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,513 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $64,740 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 14.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Melrose Park-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Maywood, IL – 1.9 mi away (23,756 pop)
- Elmwood Park, IL – 2.8 mi away (24,626 pop)
- Oak Park, IL – 4.0 mi away (51,774 pop)
- Elmhurst, IL – 4.1 mi away (46,387 pop)
- Berwyn, IL – 5.6 mi away (55,748 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Melrose Park, IL?
Our directory has 72 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Melrose Park. The closest is Triton College in River Grove, IL (1.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Illinois Chicago (11.2 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Melrose Park?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Melrose Park 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 Maywood instead of Melrose Park?
Maywood, IL is 1.9 miles from Melrose Park 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 Melrose Park an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Melrose Park’s median household income of $64,740 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Melrose Park 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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