Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Park Forest, IL (2026)
Park Forest, Illinois has a population of about 20,898. The city’s median household income is $62,305 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 64 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Park Forest, with tuition ranging from $5,093 to $47,066 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 Park Forest
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 64 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Park Forest. Distances are calculated from Park Forest city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governors State University | University Park, IL | 2.7 mi | $11,320 - $23,076 | – |
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights, IL | 3.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| South Suburban College | South Holland, IL | 9.3 mi | $5,093 - $12,683 | – |
| Purdue University Northwest | Hammond, IN | 13.1 mi | $8,419 - $16,287 | – |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights, IL | 13.8 mi | $20,325 - $47,066 | – |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago, IL | 15.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Calumet College of Saint Joseph | Whiting, IN | 16.4 mi | $22,650 - $31,758 | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College | Chicago, IL | 16.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills, IL | 16.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Chicago State University | Chicago, IL | 16.8 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 Park Forest
Park Forest 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.
Park Forest at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,898 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $62,305 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 25.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Park Forest-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Chicago Heights, IL – 3.3 mi away (30,026 pop)
- Tinley Park, IL – 8.5 mi away (56,831 pop)
- Harvey, IL – 8.9 mi away (24,947 pop)
- South Holland, IL – 9.1 mi away (21,817 pop)
- Oak Forest, IL – 9.2 mi away (27,792 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Park Forest, IL?
Our directory has 64 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Park Forest. The closest is Governors State University in University Park, IL (2.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Chicago State University (16.8 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Park Forest?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Park Forest 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 Chicago Heights instead of Park Forest?
Chicago Heights, IL is 3.3 miles from Park Forest 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 Park Forest an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Park Forest’s median household income of $62,305 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Park Forest 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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