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

Topeka, Kansas has 5 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs, with tuition ranging from $9,578 to $20,949 per year for indexed programs. Topeka has a population of about 126,103. Median household income is $55,902 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Topeka, KS metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $148,910 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Topeka

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

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

Criminal Justice Wages Near Topeka

Topeka is part of the Topeka, KS metro area (BLS area code 45820). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Kansas statewide.

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.

Topeka at a Glance

Other Topeka-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs

• Lawrence, KS – 23.7 mi away (95,800 pop)
• Gardner, KS – 43.8 mi away (21,110 pop)
• Leavenworth, KS – 45.8 mi away (46,445 pop)
• Shawnee, KS – 47.7 mi away (65,194 pop)
• Olathe, KS – 48.2 mi away (135,473 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Topeka. The closest is Washburn University in Topeka, KS (0.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Kansas City Kansas Community College (51.2 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Topeka are: Judge or Magistrate ($148,910), Police Supervisor ($105,910), Attorney ($102,500). 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 Lawrence instead of Topeka?

Lawrence, KS is 23.7 miles from Topeka 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 Topeka an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Topeka’s median household income of $55,902 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Topeka 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

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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.