Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Bardstown, KY (2026)
Bardstown, Kentucky has a population of about 13,673. The city’s median household income is $49,781 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 24.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Bardstown, with tuition ranging from $26,990 to $40,924 per year. In the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $151,990 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Bardstown
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Bardstown city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College | Elizabethtown, KY | 24.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Sullivan University | Louisville, KY | 29.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Louisville | Louisville, KY | 32.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Campbellsville University | Campbellsville, KY | 33.3 mi | $26,990 - $40,924 | – |
| Spalding University | Louisville, KY | 33.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Kentucky schools on the Kentucky criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Bardstown
Bardstown is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area (BLS area code 31140). 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 | $103,860 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $111,557 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $151,990 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $163,255 |
| Police Supervisor | $98,310 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $105,596 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $91,950 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $98,765 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $63,170 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $67,852 |
| Correctional Officer | $47,440 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $50,956 |
| Probation Officer | $54,690 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $58,743 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $58,230 | KY statewide | $62,546 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $51,150 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $54,941 |
| Information Security Analyst | $103,760 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $111,450 |
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.
Bardstown at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,673 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $49,781 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 24.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 93.1 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Bardstown-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Elizabethtown, KY – 24.4 mi away (77,016 pop)
- Radcliff, KY – 26.2 mi away (22,490 pop)
- Louisville, KY – 26.3 mi away (1,003,412 pop)
- Jeffersontown, KY – 27.5 mi away (27,352 pop)
- Shelbyville, KY – 29.5 mi away (22,779 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Bardstown, KY?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Bardstown. The closest is Elizabethtown Community and Technical College in Elizabethtown, KY (24.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Spalding University (33.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Bardstown?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Bardstown are: Judge or Magistrate ($151,990), Attorney ($103,860), Information Security Analyst ($103,760). 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 Elizabethtown instead of Bardstown?
Elizabethtown, KY is 24.4 miles from Bardstown 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 Bardstown an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Bardstown’s median household income of $49,781 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bardstown 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
Back to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Kentucky (2026)
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