Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Oak Park, IL (2026)
Oak Park, Illinois has a population of about 53,315. The city’s median household income is $108,026 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 72.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Oak Park, with tuition ranging from $4,920 to $29,360 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 Park
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Oak Park city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triton College | River Grove, IL | 3.3 mi | $4,920 - $14,880 | – |
| Morton College | Cicero, IL | 4.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Chicago, IL | 5.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, IL | 7.2 mi | $14,338 - $29,360 | – |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago, IL | 7.3 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 Park
Oak 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.
Oak Park at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 53,315 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $108,026 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 72.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Oak Park-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Elmwood Park, IL – 2.8 mi away (24,626 pop)
- Maywood, IL – 2.8 mi away (23,756 pop)
- Berwyn, IL – 3.0 mi away (55,748 pop)
- Cicero, IL – 3.3 mi away (82,992 pop)
- Melrose Park, IL – 4.0 mi away (25,229 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Oak Park, IL?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Oak Park. The closest is Triton College in River Grove, IL (3.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Northeastern Illinois University (7.3 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Oak Park?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Oak 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 Elmwood Park instead of Oak Park?
Elmwood Park, IL is 2.8 miles from Oak 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 Oak Park an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Oak Park’s median household income of $108,026 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Oak 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
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