Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Independence, KY (2026)
Independence, Kentucky has a population of about 29,024. The city’s median household income is $98,653 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 37.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 47 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Independence, with tuition ranging from $48,125 to $62,293 per year for indexed programs. In the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $126,530 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Independence
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 47 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Independence. Distances are calculated from Independence city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Community and Technical College | Florence, KY | 4.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Thomas More University | Crestview Hills, KY | 5.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights, KY | 7.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Union Institute & University | Cincinnati, OH | 11.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | Cincinnati, OH | 12.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | Cincinnati, OH | 13.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Xavier University | Cincinnati, OH | 14.3 mi | $48,125 - $62,293 | – |
| University of Cincinnati-Clermont College | Batavia, OH | 21.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College | Blue Ash, OH | 21.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Brown & Clermont Adult Career Campuses | Bethel, OH | 24.5 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 Independence
Independence is part of the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area (BLS area code 17140). 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 | $126,530 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $132,631 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $123,120 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $129,057 |
| Police Supervisor | $100,990 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $105,860 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $81,410 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $85,335 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $80,410 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $84,287 |
| Correctional Officer | $52,940 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $55,493 |
| Probation Officer | $58,910 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $61,751 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $64,280 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $67,379 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $61,200 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $64,151 |
| Information Security Analyst | $108,000 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $113,208 |
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.
Independence at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,024 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $98,653 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 37.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 95.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Independence-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Florence, KY – 5.9 mi away (32,460 pop)
- Covington, KY – 5.9 mi away (40,797 pop)
- Cincinnati, OH – 13.3 mi away (1,634,573 pop)
- Fairfield, OH – 26.2 mi away (42,617 pop)
- Hamilton, OH – 30.6 mi away (62,127 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Independence, KY?
Our directory has 47 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Independence. The closest is Gateway Community and Technical College in Florence, KY (4.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Brown & Clermont Adult Career Campuses (24.5 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Independence?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Independence are: Attorney ($126,530), Judge or Magistrate ($123,120), Information Security Analyst ($108,000). 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 Florence instead of Independence?
Florence, KY is 5.9 miles from Independence 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 Independence an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Independence’s median household income of $98,653 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Independence 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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