Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Norton Shores, MI (2026)

Norton Shores, Michigan has a population of about 25,000. The city’s median household income is $73,390 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 33.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Norton Shores. In the Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $119,530 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Norton Shores

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

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Muskegon Community CollegeMuskegon, MI6.5 miContact school for pricing
Grand Valley State UniversityAllendale, MI22.9 miContact school for pricing
Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids, MI32.6 miContact school for pricing
Calvin UniversityGrand Rapids, MI37.4 miContact school for pricing
Davenport UniversityGrand Rapids, MI42.3 miContact school for pricing

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


Criminal Justice Wages Near Norton Shores

Norton Shores is part of the Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI metro area (BLS area code 34740). 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$119,530Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI$129,222
Judge or Magistrate$51,250MI statewide$55,405
Police Supervisor$93,790Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI$101,395
Detective or Criminal Investigator$92,560MI statewide$100,065
Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$73,290Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI$79,232
Correctional Officer$65,250MI statewide$70,541
Probation Officer$79,230MI statewide$85,654
Forensic Science Technician$69,040MI statewide$74,638
Paralegal or Legal Assistant$50,930Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI$55,059
Information Security Analyst$104,540MI statewide$113,016

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.


Norton Shores at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population25,000Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$73,390Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+33.2%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)92.5 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Norton Shores-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Norton Shores, MI?

Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Norton Shores. The closest is Muskegon Community College in Muskegon, MI (6.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Davenport University (42.3 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Norton Shores?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Norton Shores are: Attorney ($119,530), Information Security Analyst ($104,540), Police Supervisor ($93,790). 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 Muskegon instead of Norton Shores?

Muskegon, MI is 4.6 miles from Norton Shores 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 Norton Shores an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Norton Shores’s median household income of $73,390 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Norton Shores 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.