Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Forest Lake, MN (2026)
Forest Lake, Minnesota has a population of about 20,678. The city’s median household income is $89,879 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 35.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Forest Lake. In the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $182,790 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Forest Lake
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Forest Lake city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Century College | White Bear Lake, MN | 15.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Northwestern-St Paul | Saint Paul, MN | 21.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Metropolitan State University | Saint Paul, MN | 21.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul, MN | 22.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Hennepin Community College | Brooklyn Park, MN | 22.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Minnesota schools on the Minnesota criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Forest Lake
Forest Lake is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area (BLS area code 33460). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Minnesota statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $150,110 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $143,235 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $182,790 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $174,418 |
| Police Supervisor | $108,040 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $103,092 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $84,340 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $80,477 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $95,920 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $91,527 |
| Correctional Officer | $75,410 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $71,956 |
| Probation Officer | $77,750 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $74,189 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $73,070 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $69,723 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $74,750 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $71,326 |
| Information Security Analyst | $129,380 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $123,454 |
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.
Forest Lake at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,678 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $89,879 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 35.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 104.8 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Forest Lake-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Lino Lakes, MN – 8.5 mi away (21,018 pop)
- White Bear Lake, MN – 13.3 mi away (25,634 pop)
- Blaine, MN – 13.5 mi away (62,892 pop)
- Shoreview, MN – 14.6 mi away (26,548 pop)
- New Brighton, MN – 17.7 mi away (22,496 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Forest Lake, MN?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Forest Lake. The closest is Century College in White Bear Lake, MN (15.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is North Hennepin Community College (22.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Forest Lake?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Forest Lake are: Judge or Magistrate ($182,790), Attorney ($150,110), Information Security Analyst ($129,380). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Minnesota statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Lino Lakes instead of Forest Lake?
Lino Lakes, MN is 8.5 miles from Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Forest Lake’s median household income of $89,879 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Forest Lake while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Minnesota 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 Minnesota
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
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