Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Boston, MA (2026)
Boston, Massachusetts has a population of about 663,972. The city’s median household income is $94,755 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 54.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Boston. In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $221,710 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Boston
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Boston city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roxbury Community College | Roxbury Crossing, MA | 1.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northeastern University | Boston, MA | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northeastern University Professional Programs | Boston, MA | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Boston University | Boston, MA | 2.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston | Boston, MA | 2.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Massachusetts schools on the Massachusetts criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Boston
Boston is part of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area (BLS area code 14460). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Massachusetts statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $194,740 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $179,815 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $221,710 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $204,718 |
| Police Supervisor | $107,100 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $98,892 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $111,460 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $102,918 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $78,610 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $72,585 |
| Correctional Officer | $81,850 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $75,577 |
| Probation Officer | $90,350 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $83,426 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $74,910 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $69,169 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $77,470 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $71,533 |
| Information Security Analyst | $132,170 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $122,041 |
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.
Boston at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 663,972 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $94,755 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 54.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.3 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Boston-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Cambridge, MA – 4.3 mi away (110,651 pop)
- Somerville, MA – 5.0 mi away (81,322 pop)
- Quincy, MA – 5.7 mi away (93,688 pop)
- Chelsea, MA – 5.9 mi away (39,699 pop)
- Watertown, MA – 5.9 mi away (35,025 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Boston, MA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Boston. The closest is Roxbury Community College in Roxbury Crossing, MA (1.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Massachusetts-Boston (2.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Boston?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Boston are: Judge or Magistrate ($221,710), Attorney ($194,740), Information Security Analyst ($132,170). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Massachusetts statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Cambridge instead of Boston?
Cambridge, MA is 4.3 miles from Boston 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 Boston an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Boston’s median household income of $94,755 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Boston while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
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