Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Laurel, MD (2026)
Laurel, Maryland has a population of about 29,594. The city’s median household income is $94,063 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 44.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 80 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Laurel, with tuition ranging from $6,152 to $73,198 per year for indexed programs. In the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $191,880 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Laurel
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 80 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Laurel. Distances are calculated from Laurel city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capitol Technology University | Laurel, MD | 3.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bowie State University | Bowie, MD | 7.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Howard Community College | Columbia, MD | 8.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Maryland Global Campus | Adelphi, MD | 12.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The Catholic University of America | Washington, DC | 13.3 mi | $55,834 - $73,198 | – |
| Trinity Washington University | Washington, DC | 13.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Prince George’s Community College | Largo, MD | 14.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Howard University | Washington, DC | 14.6 mi | $33,344 - $51,450 | – |
| University of the District of Columbia | Washington, DC | 15.1 mi | $6,152 - $20,911 | – |
| Montgomery College | Rockville, MD | 15.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Maryland schools on the Maryland criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Laurel
Laurel is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (BLS area code 47900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Maryland statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $191,880 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $176,198 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $163,190 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $149,853 |
| Police Supervisor | $124,770 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $114,573 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $153,340 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $140,808 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $83,430 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $76,612 |
| Correctional Officer | $69,040 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $63,398 |
| Probation Officer | $68,750 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $63,131 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $80,300 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $73,737 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $80,550 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $73,967 |
| Information Security Analyst | $138,410 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $127,098 |
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.
Laurel at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,594 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $94,063 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 44.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Laurel-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Greenbelt, MD – 7.1 mi away (23,909 pop)
- College Park, MD – 7.8 mi away (32,275 pop)
- Bowie, MD – 11.5 mi away (58,393 pop)
- Washington, DC – 15.5 mi away (5,191,844 pop)
- Rockville, MD – 15.7 mi away (66,940 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Laurel, MD?
Our directory has 80 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Laurel. The closest is Capitol Technology University in Laurel, MD (3.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Montgomery College (15.9 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Laurel?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Laurel are: Attorney ($191,880), Judge or Magistrate ($163,190), Detective or Criminal Investigator ($153,340). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Maryland statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Greenbelt instead of Laurel?
Greenbelt, MD is 7.1 miles from Laurel 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 Laurel an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Laurel’s median household income of $94,063 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Laurel while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Maryland 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 Maryland
- 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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