Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Hastings, MN (2026)
Hastings, Minnesota has a population of about 22,050. The city’s median household income is $92,940 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Hastings. 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 Hastings
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Hastings city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inver Hills Community College | Inver Grove Heights, MN | 11.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Metropolitan State University | Saint Paul, MN | 19.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul, MN | 19.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| St Catherine University | Saint Paul, MN | 21.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Concordia University-Saint Paul | Saint Paul, MN | 21.2 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 Hastings
Hastings 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.
Hastings at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,050 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $92,940 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 28.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 104.8 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Hastings-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Cottage Grove, MN – 6.9 mi away (36,029 pop)
- Rosemount, MN – 10.5 mi away (23,911 pop)
- Inver Grove Heights, MN – 12.0 mi away (35,077 pop)
- Woodbury, MN – 12.5 mi away (68,820 pop)
- South Saint Paul, MN – 14.1 mi away (20,217 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Hastings, MN?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Hastings. The closest is Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, MN (11.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Concordia University-Saint Paul (21.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Hastings?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Hastings 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 Cottage Grove instead of Hastings?
Cottage Grove, MN is 6.9 miles from Hastings 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 Hastings an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Hastings’s median household income of $92,940 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hastings 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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