Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Rock Island, IL (2026)
Rock Island, Illinois has a population of about 36,758. The city’s median household income is $57,292 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 21 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Rock Island, with tuition ranging from $5,980 to $27,828 per year for indexed programs. In the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $123,840 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Rock Island
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 21 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Rock Island. Distances are calculated from Rock Island city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport, IA | 3.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Ambrose University | Davenport, IA | 4.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Black Hawk College | Moline, IL | 7.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Carl Sandburg College | Galesburg, IL | 35.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southeastern Community College | West Burlington, IA | 54.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Sauk Valley Community College | Dixon, IL | 56.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids, IA | 63.0 mi | $5,980 - $14,797 | – |
| Coe College | Cedar Rapids, IA | 66.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mount Mercy University | Cedar Rapids, IA | 66.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb, IL | 69.4 mi | $14,952 - $27,828 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Rock Island
Rock Island is part of the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area (BLS area code 19340). 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 | $123,840 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $138,990 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | IL statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $99,350 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $111,504 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $81,050 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $90,965 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $72,490 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $81,358 |
| Correctional Officer | $68,650 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $77,048 |
| Probation Officer | $73,000 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $81,930 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $117,590 | IL statewide | $131,975 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $49,340 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $55,376 |
| Information Security Analyst | $105,080 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $117,935 |
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.
Rock Island at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 36,758 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $57,292 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 22.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 89.1 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Rock Island-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Moline, IL – 4.8 mi away (42,250 pop)
- Davenport, IA – 6.0 mi away (288,233 pop)
- Bettendorf, IA – 8.6 mi away (35,727 pop)
- East Moline, IL – 10.7 mi away (21,135 pop)
- Muscatine, IA – 25.4 mi away (26,481 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Rock Island, IL?
Our directory has 21 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Rock Island. The closest is Eastern Iowa Community College District in Davenport, IA (3.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Western Illinois University (69.4 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Rock Island?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Rock Island are: Attorney ($123,840), Forensic Science Technician ($117,590), Information Security Analyst ($105,080). 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 Moline instead of Rock Island?
Moline, IL is 4.8 miles from Rock Island 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 Rock Island an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Rock Island’s median household income of $57,292 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Rock Island 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.
Back to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Illinois (2026)
Return to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Illinois (2026)