Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Mason City, IA (2026)

Mason City, Iowa has 5 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs. Mason City has a population of about 27,135. Median household income is $62,369 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Iowa, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $147,510 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Mason City

The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Mason City. Distances are calculated from Mason City city center.

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa criminal justice page.

Criminal Justice Wages Near Mason City

Source: BLS, May 2025 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.

Mason City at a Glance

Other Mason City-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs

• Austin, MN – 37.9 mi away (25,105 pop)
• Cedar Falls, IA – 57.6 mi away (41,390 pop)
• Waterloo, IA – 62.5 mi away (112,635 pop)
• Owatonna, MN – 65.2 mi away (25,567 pop)
• Fort Dodge, IA – 66.3 mi away (24,359 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Mason City, IA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Mason City. The closest is North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, IA (3.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Northern Iowa (57.5 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles in Iowa?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles in Iowa are: Judge or Magistrate ($147,510), Attorney ($123,550), Information Security Analyst ($119,710). Wages for Mason City workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Austin instead of Mason City?

Austin, MN is 37.9 miles from Mason City 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 Mason City an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Mason City’s median household income of $62,369 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Mason City 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.

Learn More About Criminal Justice Programs

• Criminal Justice accreditation: what to look for
• Criminal Justice concentrations and specializations
• Is a Criminal Justice degree worth it?
• Main Criminal Justice degree guide
• Online Criminal Justice programs in Iowa
• Criminal Justice programs by state

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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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.