Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Bowling Green, KY (2026)
Bowling Green, Kentucky has a population of about 73,638. The city’s median household income is $48,419 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 25 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Bowling Green, with tuition ranging from $4,656 to $13,738 per year for indexed programs. In Kentucky, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $138,620 annually (BLS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Bowling Green
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 25 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Bowling Green. Distances are calculated from Bowling Green city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY | 1.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | Bowling Green, KY | 2.3 mi | $4,656 - $13,738 | – |
| Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin, TN | 42.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Cumberland University | Lebanon, TN | 53.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Hopkinsville Community College | Hopkinsville, KY | 58.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College | Elizabethtown, KY | 58.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Austin Peay State University | Clarksville, TN | 59.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Fisk University | Nashville, TN | 59.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, TN | 59.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville, TN | 60.1 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 Bowling Green
Bowling Green is part of the Bowling Green, KY metro area (BLS area code 14540). 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 | $96,960 | Bowling Green, KY | $107,494 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $138,620 | KY statewide | $153,681 |
| Police Supervisor | $82,940 | Bowling Green, KY | $91,951 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $80,710 | Bowling Green, KY | $89,479 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $61,260 | Bowling Green, KY | $67,916 |
| Correctional Officer | $35,930 | Bowling Green, KY | $39,834 |
| Probation Officer | $55,910 | KY statewide | $61,984 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $58,230 | KY statewide | $64,557 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $48,580 | Bowling Green, KY | $53,858 |
| Information Security Analyst | $98,210 | KY statewide | $108,880 |
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.
Bowling Green at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 73,638 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $48,419 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 32.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 90.2 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Bowling Green-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Gallatin, TN – 41.1 mi away (35,734 pop)
- Hendersonville, TN – 46.9 mi away (57,050 pop)
- Lebanon, TN – 53.3 mi away (33,068 pop)
- Mount Juliet, TN – 53.5 mi away (33,263 pop)
- Clarksville, TN – 57.3 mi away (179,367 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Bowling Green, KY?
Our directory has 25 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Bowling Green. The closest is Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY (1.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Trevecca Nazarene University (60.1 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Bowling Green?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Bowling Green are: Judge or Magistrate ($138,620), Information Security Analyst ($98,210), Attorney ($96,960). 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 Gallatin instead of Bowling Green?
Gallatin, TN is 41.1 miles from Bowling Green 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 Bowling Green an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Bowling Green’s median household income of $48,419 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bowling Green 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
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; 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.
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