Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Palatine, IL (2026)
Palatine, Illinois has a population of about 66,548. The city’s median household income is $95,950 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 49.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 74 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Palatine, with tuition ranging from $3,822 to $47,751 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 Palatine
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 74 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Palatine. Distances are calculated from Palatine city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL | 2.9 mi | $3,822 - $12,833 | – |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | 9.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Trinity International University-Illinois | Deerfield, IL | 10.0 mi | $12,320 - $47,751 | – |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL | 15.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, IL | 16.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| College of Lake County | Grayslake, IL | 16.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Chicago, IL | 17.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Triton College | River Grove, IL | 17.4 mi | $4,920 - $14,880 | – |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago, IL | 19.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL | 19.2 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 Palatine
Palatine 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.
Palatine at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,548 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $95,950 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 49.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Palatine-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Rolling Meadows, IL – 3.1 mi away (24,021 pop)
- Arlington Heights, IL – 3.5 mi away (75,525 pop)
- Buffalo Grove, IL – 5.4 mi away (41,346 pop)
- Wheeling, IL – 6.2 mi away (38,315 pop)
- Schaumburg, IL – 6.4 mi away (74,446 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Palatine, IL?
Our directory has 74 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Palatine. The closest is William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL (2.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is College of DuPage (19.2 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Palatine?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Palatine 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 Rolling Meadows instead of Palatine?
Rolling Meadows, IL is 3.1 miles from Palatine 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 Palatine an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Palatine’s median household income of $95,950 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Palatine 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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