Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Lowell, MA (2026)
Lowell, Massachusetts has a population of about 114,799. The city’s median household income is $76,205 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Lowell, with tuition ranging from $7,140 to $50,999 per year. 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 Lowell
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Lowell city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Lowell, MA | 1.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Middlesex Community College | Bedford, MA | 8.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rivier University | Nashua, NH | 9.8 mi | $37,791 - $50,999 | – |
| Merrimack College | North Andover, MA | 10.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Nashua Community College | Nashua, NH | 14.9 mi | $7,140 - $18,752 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Massachusetts schools on the Massachusetts criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Lowell
Lowell 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.
Lowell at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 114,799 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $76,205 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 29.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.3 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Lowell-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Lawrence, MA – 9.1 mi away (80,209 pop)
- Methuen, MA – 9.4 mi away (49,917 pop)
- Nashua, NH – 11.5 mi away (230,061 pop)
- Woburn, MA – 13.5 mi away (39,452 pop)
- Haverhill, MA – 15.6 mi away (62,873 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Lowell, MA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Lowell. The closest is University of Massachusetts-Lowell in Lowell, MA (1.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Nashua Community College (14.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Lowell?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Lowell 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 Lawrence instead of Lowell?
Lawrence, MA is 9.1 miles from Lowell 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 Lowell an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Lowell’s median household income of $76,205 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lowell 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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