Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Lexington, KY (2026)
Lexington, Kentucky has a population of about 312,495. Our directory has 36 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Lexington, with tuition ranging from $4,706 to $13,281 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 Lexington
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 36 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Lexington. Distances are calculated from Lexington city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington, KY | 2.7 mi | $4,706 - $13,281 | – |
| Midway University | Midway, KY | 13.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond, KY | 22.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Kentucky State University | Frankfort, KY | 24.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Maysville Community and Technical College | Maysville, KY | 53.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Gateway Community and Technical College | Florence, KY | 64.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Sullivan University | Louisville, KY | 66.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Brown & Clermont Adult Career Campuses | Bethel, OH | 67.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Thomas More University | Crestview Hills, KY | 68.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights, KY | 68.2 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 Lexington
Lexington is part of the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area (BLS area code 30460). 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 | $103,010 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $110,883 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $138,620 | KY statewide | $149,214 |
| Police Supervisor | $90,690 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $97,621 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $94,780 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $102,024 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $63,070 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $67,890 |
| Correctional Officer | $52,120 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $56,103 |
| Probation Officer | $57,870 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $62,293 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $58,230 | KY statewide | $62,680 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $56,620 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $60,947 |
| Information Security Analyst | $99,180 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $106,760 |
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.
Lexington at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 92.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Lexington-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Nicholasville, KY – 12.0 mi away (30,052 pop)
- Georgetown, KY – 13.5 mi away (35,353 pop)
- Winchester, KY – 14.9 mi away (25,961 pop)
- Richmond, KY – 23.8 mi away (39,267 pop)
- Frankfort, KY – 24.4 mi away (39,034 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Lexington, KY?
Our directory has 36 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Lexington. The closest is Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, KY (2.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Northern Kentucky University (68.2 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Lexington?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Lexington are: Judge or Magistrate ($138,620), Attorney ($103,010), Information Security Analyst ($99,180). 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 Nicholasville instead of Lexington?
Nicholasville, KY is 12.0 miles from Lexington 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.
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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