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

Lansing, Michigan has a population of about 112,546. The city’s median household income is $52,170 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Lansing, with tuition ranging from $32,580 to $43,178 per year. In the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $127,270 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Lansing

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Lansing city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Lansing Community CollegeLansing, MI1.8 miContact school for pricing
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI4.6 miContact school for pricing
The University of OlivetOlivet, MI26.4 miContact school for pricing
Spring Arbor UniversitySpring Arbor, MI35.1 mi$32,580 - $43,178
Jackson CollegeJackson, MI38.7 miContact school for pricing

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


Criminal Justice Wages Near Lansing

Lansing is part of the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area (BLS area code 29620). 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$127,270Lansing-East Lansing, MI$133,968
Judge or Magistrate$51,250MI statewide$53,947
Police Supervisor$95,270Lansing-East Lansing, MI$100,284
Detective or Criminal Investigator$84,660Lansing-East Lansing, MI$89,116
Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$76,070Lansing-East Lansing, MI$80,074
Correctional Officer$59,660Lansing-East Lansing, MI$62,800
Probation Officer$79,230Lansing-East Lansing, MI$83,400
Forensic Science Technician$69,040MI statewide$72,674
Paralegal or Legal Assistant$58,590Lansing-East Lansing, MI$61,674
Information Security Analyst$94,670Lansing-East Lansing, MI$99,653

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.


Lansing at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population112,546Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$52,170Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+29.6%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)95.0 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Lansing-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Lansing, MI?

Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Lansing. The closest is Lansing Community College in Lansing, MI (1.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Jackson College (38.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Lansing are: Attorney ($127,270), Police Supervisor ($95,270), Information Security Analyst ($94,670). 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 East Lansing instead of Lansing?

East Lansing, MI is 4.5 miles from Lansing 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 Lansing an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Lansing’s median household income of $52,170 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lansing 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.