Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Lake Charles, LA (2026)
Lake Charles, Louisiana has a population of about 81,679. The city’s median household income is $56,864 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Lake Charles, with tuition ranging from $1,770 to $16,402 per year. In the Lake Charles, LA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $97,980 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Lake Charles
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Lake Charles city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McNeese State University | Lake Charles, LA | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| SOWELA Technical Community College | Lake Charles, LA | 3.3 mi | $4,265 - $16,402 | – |
| Lamar State College-Orange | Orange, TX | 46.9 mi | $2,832 - $13,824 | – |
| Lamar State College-Port Arthur | Port Arthur, TX | 48.1 mi | $1,770 - $11,281 | – |
| Louisiana State University-Eunice | Eunice, LA | 50.0 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 Lake Charles
Lake Charles is part of the Lake Charles, LA metro area (BLS area code 29340). 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 | $97,980 | Lake Charles, LA | $114,063 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $70,610 | LA statewide | $82,200 |
| Police Supervisor | $71,440 | Lake Charles, LA | $83,166 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $60,060 | Lake Charles, LA | $69,919 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $55,670 | Lake Charles, LA | $64,808 |
| Correctional Officer | $39,250 | Lake Charles, LA | $45,693 |
| Probation Officer | $55,960 | Lake Charles, LA | $65,146 |
| Forensic Science Technician | N/A | LA statewide | – |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $48,520 | Lake Charles, LA | $56,484 |
| Information Security Analyst | $88,200 | LA statewide | $102,678 |
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.
Lake Charles at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 81,679 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $56,864 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 29.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 85.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Lake Charles-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Sulphur, LA – 8.6 mi away (20,272 pop)
- Port Arthur, TX – 48.9 mi away (157,732 pop)
- Beaumont, TX – 56.2 mi away (147,935 pop)
- Abbeville, LA – 67.0 mi away (20,139 pop)
- Lafayette, LA – 70.7 mi away (267,376 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Lake Charles, LA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Lake Charles. The closest is McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA (1.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Louisiana State University-Eunice (50.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Lake Charles?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Lake Charles are: Attorney ($97,980), Information Security Analyst ($88,200), Police Supervisor ($71,440). 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 Sulphur instead of Lake Charles?
Sulphur, LA is 8.6 miles from Lake Charles 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 Lake Charles an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Lake Charles’s median household income of $56,864 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lake Charles 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
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