Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Oak Lawn, IL (2026)
Oak Lawn, Illinois has a population of about 57,098. The city’s median household income is $82,493 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 30.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Oak Lawn, with tuition ranging from $20,325 to $47,066 per year. 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 Oak Lawn
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Oak Lawn city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago, IL | 1.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College | Chicago, IL | 3.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights, IL | 3.5 mi | $20,325 - $47,066 | – |
| Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills, IL | 4.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College | Chicago, IL | 7.2 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 Oak Lawn
Oak Lawn 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.
Oak Lawn at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,098 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $82,493 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 30.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Oak Lawn-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Burbank, IL – 2.3 mi away (28,886 pop)
- Blue Island, IL – 5.4 mi away (23,401 pop)
- Oak Forest, IL – 7.5 mi away (27,792 pop)
- Harvey, IL – 9.0 mi away (24,947 pop)
- Cicero, IL – 9.0 mi away (82,992 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Oak Lawn, IL?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Oak Lawn. The closest is Saint Xavier University in Chicago, IL (1.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College (7.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Oak Lawn?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Oak Lawn 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 Burbank instead of Oak Lawn?
Burbank, IL is 2.3 miles from Oak Lawn 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 Oak Lawn an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Oak Lawn’s median household income of $82,493 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Oak Lawn 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
Back to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Illinois (2026)
Return to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Illinois (2026)