Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Kalamazoo, MI (2026)

Kalamazoo, Michigan has a population of about 73,132. The city’s median household income is $48,965 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 37.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 39 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Kalamazoo, with tuition ranging from $6,026 to $28,655 per year for indexed programs. In the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Information Security Analyst at a median $108,320 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Kalamazoo

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 39 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Kalamazoo. Distances are calculated from Kalamazoo city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI1.4 mi$15,298 - $28,655
Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeKalamazoo, MI5.9 miContact school for pricing
Kellogg Community CollegeBattle Creek, MI21.4 miContact school for pricing
Glen Oaks Community CollegeCentreville, MI26.8 miContact school for pricing
Southwestern Michigan CollegeDowagiac, MI33.2 mi$6,026 - $14,999
The University of OlivetOlivet, MI35.8 miContact school for pricing
Davenport UniversityGrand Rapids, MI39.8 miContact school for pricing
Lake Michigan CollegeBenton Harbor, MI43.0 miContact school for pricing
Grace Christian UniversityWyoming, MI44.9 miContact school for pricing
Calvin UniversityGrand Rapids, MI45.3 miContact school for pricing

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


Criminal Justice Wages Near Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo is part of the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area (BLS area code 28020). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Michigan statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Attorney$104,710Kalamazoo-Portage, MI$110,454
Judge or Magistrate$51,250MI statewide$54,061
Police Supervisor$96,640Kalamazoo-Portage, MI$101,941
Detective or Criminal Investigator$85,800Kalamazoo-Portage, MI$90,506
Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$71,100Kalamazoo-Portage, MI$75,000
Correctional Officer$65,250MI statewide$68,829
Probation Officer$79,230MI statewide$83,576
Forensic Science Technician$69,040MI statewide$72,827
Paralegal or Legal Assistant$50,130Kalamazoo-Portage, MI$52,880
Information Security Analyst$108,320Kalamazoo-Portage, MI$114,262

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.


Kalamazoo at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population73,132Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$48,965Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+37.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)94.8 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Kalamazoo-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Kalamazoo, MI?

Our directory has 39 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Kalamazoo. The closest is Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI (1.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Calvin University (45.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Kalamazoo?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Kalamazoo are: Information Security Analyst ($108,320), Attorney ($104,710), Police Supervisor ($96,640). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Michigan statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Portage instead of Kalamazoo?

Portage, MI is 5.2 miles from Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Kalamazoo’s median household income of $48,965 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Kalamazoo while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Michigan 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.


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.