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

Gardner, Kansas has a population of about 24,020. The city’s median household income is $92,579 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Gardner. In the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $150,430 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).

Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Gardner

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Gardner city center.

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

Criminal Justice Wages Near Gardner

Gardner is part of the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area (BLS area code 28140). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Kansas statewide.

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.

Gardner at a Glance

Other Gardner-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs

• Olathe, KS – 7.6 mi away (135,473 pop)
• Lenexa, KS – 12.1 mi away (52,903 pop)
• Overland Park, KS – 13.9 mi away (188,966 pop)
• Shawnee, KS – 15.3 mi away (65,194 pop)
• Leawood, KS – 17.5 mi away (34,565 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Gardner, KS?

Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Gardner. The closest is MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, KS (8.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Kansas City Kansas Community College (23.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Gardner?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Gardner are: Judge or Magistrate ($150,430), Attorney ($130,890), Information Security Analyst ($104,230). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Kansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Olathe instead of Gardner?

Olathe, KS is 7.6 miles from Gardner 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 Gardner an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Gardner’s median household income of $92,579 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Gardner 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.

Related Resources

• Online Criminal Justice Programs in Kansas
• Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
• Criminal Justice Programs by State