Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Kansas City, KS (2026)
Kansas City, Kansas has a population of about 154,776. The city’s median household income is $59,183 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 20.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Kansas City. 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 Kansas City
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Kansas City city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Kansas Community College | Kansas City, KS | 0.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Park University | Parkville, MO | 5.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | 9.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rockhurst University | Kansas City, MO | 11.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Johnson County Community College | Overland Park, KS | 13.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Kansas schools on the Kansas criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Kansas City
Kansas City 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.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $130,890 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $141,503 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $150,430 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $162,627 |
| Police Supervisor | $97,880 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $105,816 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $91,620 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $99,049 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $63,050 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $68,162 |
| Correctional Officer | $49,350 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $53,351 |
| Probation Officer | $50,460 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $54,551 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $77,280 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $83,546 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $61,170 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $66,130 |
| Information Security Analyst | $104,230 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $112,681 |
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.
Kansas City at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 154,776 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $59,183 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 20.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 92.5 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Kansas City-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Shawnee, KS – 8.2 mi away (65,194 pop)
- Kansas City, MO – 10.2 mi away (1,590,762 pop)
- Prairie Village, KS – 11.0 mi away (21,805 pop)
- Lenexa, KS – 11.7 mi away (52,903 pop)
- Gladstone, MO – 11.7 mi away (27,114 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Kansas City, KS?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Kansas City. The closest is Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, KS (0.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Johnson County Community College (13.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Kansas City?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Kansas City 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 Shawnee instead of Kansas City?
Shawnee, KS is 8.2 miles from Kansas 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 Kansas City an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Kansas City’s median household income of $59,183 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Kansas City 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
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