Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Ruston, LA (2026)

Ruston, Louisiana has 5 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs. Ruston has a population of about 22,224. Median household income is $32,765 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 42.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Louisiana, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $104,100 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Ruston

The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Ruston. Distances are calculated from Ruston city center.

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Louisiana schools on the Louisiana criminal justice page.

Criminal Justice Wages Near Ruston

Source: BLS, May 2025 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.

Ruston at a Glance

Other Ruston-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs

• Monroe, LA – 32.6 mi away (117,673 pop)
• Bossier City, LA – 60.0 mi away (68,485 pop)
• Shreveport, LA – 67.7 mi away (291,749 pop)
• Alexandria, LA – 86.3 mi away (82,995 pop)
• Marshall, TX – 99.9 mi away (22,014 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Ruston, LA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Ruston. The closest is Grambling State University in Grambling, LA (5.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is South Arkansas College (46.8 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles in Louisiana?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles in Louisiana are: Attorney ($104,100), Information Security Analyst ($92,990), Judge or Magistrate ($83,040). Wages for Ruston workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Monroe instead of Ruston?

Monroe, LA is 32.6 miles from Ruston 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 Ruston an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Ruston’s median household income of $32,765 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ruston 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.

Learn More About Criminal Justice Programs

• Criminal Justice accreditation: what to look for
• Criminal Justice concentrations and specializations
• Is a Criminal Justice degree worth it?
• Main Criminal Justice degree guide
• Online Criminal Justice programs in Louisiana
• Criminal Justice programs by state

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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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.