Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Emporia, KS (2026)

Emporia, Kansas has 5 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs, with tuition ranging from $9,578 to $20,949 per year for indexed programs. Emporia has a population of about 24,098. Median household income is $52,787 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Kansas, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $148,910 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Emporia

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

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

Criminal Justice Wages Near Emporia

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.

Emporia at a Glance

Other Emporia-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs

• Topeka, KS – 51.3 mi away (149,220 pop)
• Junction City, KS – 55.8 mi away (40,157 pop)
• Manhattan, KS – 58.7 mi away (57,442 pop)
• Lawrence, KS – 63.2 mi away (95,800 pop)
• Newton, KS – 67.9 mi away (20,625 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Emporia, KS?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Emporia. The closest is Emporia State University in Emporia, KS (1.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Butler Community College (55.0 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles in Kansas are: Judge or Magistrate ($148,910), Attorney ($106,650), Information Security Analyst ($100,620). Wages for Emporia workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Topeka instead of Emporia?

Topeka, KS is 51.3 miles from Emporia 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 Emporia an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Emporia’s median household income of $52,787 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Emporia while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kansas 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 Kansas
• Criminal Justice programs by state

Other Programs Available in Emporia

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Emporia:

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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.