Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Fort Wayne, IN (2026)
Fort Wayne, Indiana has a population of about 266,235. The city’s median household income is $60,293 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Fort Wayne. In the Fort Wayne, IN metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $141,740 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Fort Wayne
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Fort Wayne city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies | Fort Wayne, IN | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Indiana Institute of Technology | Fort Wayne, IN | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne, IN | 2.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Manchester University | North Manchester, IN | 32.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Vantage Career Center | Van Wert, OH | 33.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Indiana schools on the Indiana criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne is part of the Fort Wayne, IN metro area (BLS area code 23060). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Indiana statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $117,500 | Fort Wayne, IN | $126,890 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $141,740 | Fort Wayne, IN | $153,067 |
| Police Supervisor | $96,530 | Fort Wayne, IN | $104,244 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $75,700 | Fort Wayne, IN | $81,749 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $75,780 | Fort Wayne, IN | $81,836 |
| Correctional Officer | $58,380 | Fort Wayne, IN | $63,045 |
| Probation Officer | $62,500 | Fort Wayne, IN | $67,495 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $65,770 | IN statewide | $71,026 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $59,410 | Fort Wayne, IN | $64,158 |
| Information Security Analyst | $94,570 | Fort Wayne, IN | $102,127 |
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.
Fort Wayne at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 266,235 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,293 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 28.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 92.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Fort Wayne-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Auburn, IN – 19.7 mi away (22,257 pop)
- Warsaw, IN – 38.2 mi away (32,622 pop)
- Lima, OH – 59.0 mi away (70,296 pop)
- Elkhart, IN – 59.5 mi away (147,181 pop)
- Muncie, IN – 62.9 mi away (89,186 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Fort Wayne, IN?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Fort Wayne. The closest is Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies in Fort Wayne, IN (1.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Vantage Career Center (33.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Fort Wayne?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Fort Wayne are: Judge or Magistrate ($141,740), Attorney ($117,500), Police Supervisor ($96,530). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Indiana statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Auburn instead of Fort Wayne?
Auburn, IN is 19.7 miles from Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Fort Wayne’s median household income of $60,293 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Fort Wayne while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Indiana 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 Indiana
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
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