Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Lawrence, MA (2026)
Lawrence, Massachusetts has a population of about 88,297. The city’s median household income is $57,903 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 77 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Lawrence, with tuition ranging from $7,140 to $77,082 per year for indexed programs. 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 Lawrence
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 77 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Lawrence. Distances are calculated from Lawrence city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimack College | North Andover, MA | 2.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northern Essex Community College | Haverhill, MA | 8.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Lowell, MA | 9.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Shore Community College | Danvers, MA | 12.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Middlesex Community College | Bedford, MA | 13.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rivier University | Nashua, NH | 15.1 mi | $37,791 - $50,999 | – |
| Endicott College | Beverly, MA | 19.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Salem State University | Salem, MA | 19.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Nashua Community College | Nashua, NH | 19.4 mi | $7,140 - $18,752 | – |
| Bentley University | Waltham, MA | 21.9 mi | $58,150 - $77,082 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Massachusetts schools on the Massachusetts criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Lawrence
Lawrence 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.
Lawrence at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 88,297 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $57,903 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 16.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.3 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Lawrence-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Methuen, MA – 2.7 mi away (49,917 pop)
- Haverhill, MA – 6.9 mi away (62,873 pop)
- Lowell, MA – 9.1 mi away (110,558 pop)
- Woburn, MA – 14.8 mi away (39,452 pop)
- Peabody, MA – 15.0 mi away (52,491 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Lawrence, MA?
Our directory has 77 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Lawrence. The closest is Merrimack College in North Andover, MA (2.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Bentley University (21.9 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Lawrence?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Lawrence 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 Methuen instead of Lawrence?
Methuen, MA is 2.7 miles from Lawrence 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 Lawrence an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Lawrence’s median household income of $57,903 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lawrence 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
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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