Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Cedar Falls, IA (2026)
Cedar Falls, Iowa has a population of about 40,662. The city’s median household income is $74,165 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 49.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 19 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Cedar Falls, with tuition ranging from $5,304 to $27,683 per year for indexed programs. In the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Police Supervisor at a median $112,310 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Cedar Falls
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 19 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Cedar Falls. Distances are calculated from Cedar Falls city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls, IA | 0.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo, IA | 8.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Ellsworth Community College | Iowa Falls, IA | 41.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Marshalltown Community College | Marshalltown, IA | 42.8 mi | $5,304 - $13,993 | – |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar, IA | 54.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mount Mercy University | Cedar Rapids, IA | 54.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Coe College | Cedar Rapids, IA | 54.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Iowa Area Community College | Mason City, IA | 55.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids, IA | 58.8 mi | $5,980 - $14,797 | – |
| Iowa State University | Ames, IA | 70.0 mi | $10,497 - $27,683 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls is part of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area (BLS area code 47940). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Iowa statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $111,080 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $127,532 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | IA statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $112,310 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $128,944 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $77,440 | IA statewide | $88,909 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $84,730 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $97,279 |
| Correctional Officer | $51,560 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $59,196 |
| Probation Officer | $93,720 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $107,600 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $63,650 | IA statewide | $73,077 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $49,770 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $57,141 |
| Information Security Analyst | $93,630 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $107,497 |
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.
Cedar Falls at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,662 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $74,165 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 49.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 87.1 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Cedar Falls-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Waterloo, IA – 5.5 mi away (112,635 pop)
- Marshalltown, IA – 40.8 mi away (26,640 pop)
- Cedar Rapids, IA – 55.1 mi away (184,610 pop)
- Marion, IA – 55.2 mi away (38,480 pop)
- Mason City, IA – 57.6 mi away (26,487 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Cedar Falls, IA?
Our directory has 19 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Cedar Falls. The closest is University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA (0.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Iowa State University (70.0 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Cedar Falls?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Cedar Falls are: Police Supervisor ($112,310), Attorney ($111,080), Probation Officer ($93,720). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Iowa statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Waterloo instead of Cedar Falls?
Waterloo, IA is 5.5 miles from Cedar Falls 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 Cedar Falls an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Cedar Falls’s median household income of $74,165 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Cedar Falls while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Iowa 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 Iowa
- 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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