Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Owatonna, MN (2026)

Owatonna, Minnesota has a population of about 26,462. The city’s median household income is $81,276 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 30 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Owatonna. In Minnesota, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $182,790 annually (BLS, May 2024).


Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Owatonna

The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 30 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Owatonna. Distances are calculated from Owatonna city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Riverland Community CollegeAustin, MN31.0 miContact school for pricing
Bethany Lutheran CollegeMankato, MN38.0 miContact school for pricing
Minnesota State University-MankatoMankato, MN38.3 miContact school for pricing
Rochester Community and Technical CollegeRochester, MN40.5 miContact school for pricing
Normandale Community CollegeBloomington, MN51.2 miContact school for pricing
Inver Hills Community CollegeInver Grove Heights, MN51.7 miContact school for pricing
St Catherine UniversitySaint Paul, MN57.6 miContact school for pricing
University of St ThomasSaint Paul, MN58.9 miContact school for pricing
Concordia University-Saint PaulSaint Paul, MN59.4 miContact school for pricing
Saint Paul CollegeSaint Paul, MN59.6 miContact school for pricing

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


Criminal Justice Wages Near Owatonna

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Minnesota, statewide)
Attorney$137,720
Judge or Magistrate$182,790
Police Supervisor$100,680
Detective or Criminal Investigator$82,330
Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$83,310
Correctional Officer$64,670
Probation Officer$79,510
Forensic Science Technician$68,790
Paralegal or Legal Assistant$67,320
Information Security Analyst$128,830

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.


Owatonna at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population26,462Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$81,276Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+32.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Owatonna-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Owatonna, MN?

Our directory has 30 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Owatonna. The closest is Riverland Community College in Austin, MN (31.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Saint Paul College (59.6 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles in Minnesota?

Based on BLS May 2024 state wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles in Minnesota are: Judge or Magistrate ($182,790), Attorney ($137,720), Information Security Analyst ($128,830). Wages for Owatonna workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Faribault instead of Owatonna?

Faribault, MN is 14.5 miles from Owatonna 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 Owatonna an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Owatonna’s median household income of $81,276 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Owatonna 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.


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.