Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Johnston, IA (2026)
Johnston, Iowa has a population of about 24,196. The city’s median household income is $103,430 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 57.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 12 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Johnston, with tuition ranging from $4,872 to $27,683 per year for indexed programs. In the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $118,750 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Johnston
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 12 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Johnston. Distances are calculated from Johnston city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny, IA | 5.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Grand View University | Des Moines, IA | 7.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Simpson College | Indianola, IA | 23.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Iowa State University | Ames, IA | 23.8 mi | $10,497 - $27,683 | – |
| Marshalltown Community College | Marshalltown, IA | 46.9 mi | $5,304 - $13,993 | – |
| Southwestern Community College | Creston, IA | 54.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge, IA | 60.9 mi | $5,376 - $15,405 | – |
| Ellsworth Community College | Iowa Falls, IA | 62.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Graceland University-Lamoni | Lamoni, IA | 74.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa, IA | 81.6 mi | $4,872 - $14,774 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Johnston
Johnston is part of the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area (BLS area code 19780). 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 | $118,750 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $129,498 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | IA statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $117,020 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $127,612 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $79,640 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $86,848 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $85,420 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $93,152 |
| Correctional Officer | $56,590 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $61,712 |
| Probation Officer | $80,600 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $87,895 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $70,450 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $76,827 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $60,790 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $66,292 |
| Information Security Analyst | $117,380 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $128,004 |
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.
Johnston at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,196 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $103,430 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 57.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 91.7 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Johnston-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Urbandale, IA – 4.6 mi away (43,018 pop)
- Ankeny, IA – 6.6 mi away (58,627 pop)
- Des Moines, IA – 9.6 mi away (476,689 pop)
- West Des Moines, IA – 9.7 mi away (64,560 pop)
- Ames, IA – 24.0 mi away (67,841 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Johnston, IA?
Our directory has 12 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Johnston. The closest is Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, IA (5.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Indian Hills Community College (81.6 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Johnston?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Johnston are: Attorney ($118,750), Information Security Analyst ($117,380), Police Supervisor ($117,020). 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 Urbandale instead of Johnston?
Urbandale, IA is 4.6 miles from Johnston 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 Johnston an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Johnston’s median household income of $103,430 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Johnston 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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