Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Ashland, KY (2026)
Ashland, Kentucky has a population of about 21,405. The city’s median household income is $52,199 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 24.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Ashland, with tuition ranging from $4,656 to $21,299 per year. In the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $103,940 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Ashland
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Ashland city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland Community and Technical College | Ashland, KY | 1.4 mi | $4,656 - $13,571 | – |
| Ohio University-Southern Campus | Ironton, OH | 4.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Collins Career Technical Center | Chesapeake, OH | 10.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mountwest Community and Technical College | Huntington, WV | 11.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Marshall University | Huntington, WV | 12.0 mi | $8,942 - $21,299 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Kentucky schools on the Kentucky criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Ashland
Ashland is part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area (BLS area code 26580). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Kentucky statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $97,000 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $109,729 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $103,940 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $117,579 |
| Police Supervisor | $74,800 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $84,615 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $77,440 | KY statewide | $87,602 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $54,590 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $61,753 |
| Correctional Officer | $48,860 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $55,271 |
| Probation Officer | $51,270 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $57,998 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $58,230 | KY statewide | $65,871 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $48,150 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $54,468 |
| Information Security Analyst | $98,210 | KY statewide | $111,097 |
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.
Ashland at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,405 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $52,199 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 24.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 88.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Ashland-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Huntington, WV – 11.9 mi away (198,419 pop)
- Portsmouth, OH – 26.0 mi away (36,584 pop)
- Charleston, WV – 55.4 mi away (146,462 pop)
- Chillicothe, OH – 63.6 mi away (32,004 pop)
- Athens, OH – 66.8 mi away (30,077 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Ashland, KY?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Ashland. The closest is Ashland Community and Technical College in Ashland, KY (1.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Marshall University (12.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Ashland?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Ashland are: Judge or Magistrate ($103,940), Information Security Analyst ($98,210), Attorney ($97,000). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Kentucky statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Huntington instead of Ashland?
Huntington, WV is 11.9 miles from Ashland 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 Ashland an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Ashland’s median household income of $52,199 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ashland while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kentucky 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 Kentucky
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
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