Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Lafayette, LA (2026)
Lafayette, Louisiana has a population of about 121,537. The city’s median household income is $61,454 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 40.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 14 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Lafayette, with tuition ranging from $4,221 to $27,314 per year for indexed programs. In the Lafayette, LA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $121,780 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Lafayette
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 14 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Lafayette. Distances are calculated from Lafayette city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, LA | 0.7 mi | $10,418 - $24,631 | – |
| South Louisiana Community College | Lafayette, LA | 1.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Louisiana State University-Eunice | Eunice, LA | 30.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | Baton Rouge, LA | 52.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southern University and A & M College | Baton Rouge, LA | 54.7 mi | $9,940 - $26,076 | – |
| Baton Rouge Community College | Baton Rouge, LA | 55.8 mi | $4,221 - $16,303 | – |
| Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University | Baton Rouge, LA | 56.5 mi | $15,690 - $27,314 | – |
| SOWELA Technical Community College | Lake Charles, LA | 67.5 mi | $4,265 - $16,402 | – |
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | Alexandria, LA | 70.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| McNeese State University | Lake Charles, LA | 70.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Louisiana schools on the Louisiana criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Lafayette
Lafayette is part of the Lafayette, LA metro area (BLS area code 29180). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Louisiana statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $121,780 | Lafayette, LA | $139,656 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $70,610 | LA statewide | $80,975 |
| Police Supervisor | $60,730 | Lafayette, LA | $69,644 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $56,340 | Lafayette, LA | $64,610 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $50,910 | Lafayette, LA | $58,383 |
| Correctional Officer | $47,710 | Lafayette, LA | $54,713 |
| Probation Officer | $59,010 | LA statewide | $67,672 |
| Forensic Science Technician | N/A | LA statewide | – |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $50,060 | Lafayette, LA | $57,408 |
| Information Security Analyst | $82,250 | Lafayette, LA | $94,323 |
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.
Lafayette at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 121,537 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $61,454 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 40.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 87.2 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Lafayette-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Abbeville, LA – 17.2 mi away (20,139 pop)
- New Iberia, LA – 19.0 mi away (30,386 pop)
- Opelousas, LA – 22.2 mi away (25,390 pop)
- Baton Rouge, LA – 56.0 mi away (589,675 pop)
- Morgan City, LA – 61.2 mi away (30,061 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Lafayette, LA?
Our directory has 14 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Lafayette. The closest is University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette, LA (0.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is McNeese State University (70.9 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Lafayette?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Lafayette are: Attorney ($121,780), Information Security Analyst ($82,250), Judge or Magistrate ($70,610). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Louisiana statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Abbeville instead of Lafayette?
Abbeville, LA is 17.2 miles from Lafayette 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 Lafayette an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Lafayette’s median household income of $61,454 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lafayette while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Louisiana 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 Louisiana
- 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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