Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Laurel, MS (2026)

Laurel, Mississippi has 5 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs, with tuition ranging from $3,932 to $13,402 per year for indexed programs. Laurel has a population of about 17,129. Median household income is $37,781 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 20.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Mississippi, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $91,690 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Laurel

The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Laurel. Distances are calculated from Laurel city center.

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

Criminal Justice Wages Near Laurel

Source: BLS, May 2025 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.

Laurel at a Glance

Other Laurel-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs

• Hattiesburg, MS – 28.7 mi away (81,995 pop)
• Meridian, MS – 54.6 mi away (39,478 pop)
• Brandon, MS – 63.8 mi away (23,826 pop)
• Pearl, MS – 68.3 mi away (26,485 pop)
• Jackson, MS – 75.8 mi away (342,607 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Laurel, MS?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Laurel. The closest is University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS (27.4 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (63.1 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles in Mississippi are: Attorney ($91,690), Information Security Analyst ($87,690), Police Supervisor ($59,860). Wages for Laurel workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Hattiesburg instead of Laurel?

Hattiesburg, MS is 28.7 miles from Laurel 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 Laurel an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Laurel’s median household income of $37,781 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Laurel while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Mississippi 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.

Learn More About Criminal Justice Programs

• Criminal Justice accreditation: what to look for
• Criminal Justice concentrations and specializations
• Is a Criminal Justice degree worth it?
• Main Criminal Justice degree guide
• Online Criminal Justice programs in Mississippi
• Criminal Justice programs by state

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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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.