Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Great Falls, MT (2026)
Great Falls, Montana has a population of about 60,412. The city’s median household income is $63,934 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Great Falls, with tuition ranging from $3,610 to $13,607 per year for indexed programs. In the Great Falls, MT metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Detective or Criminal Investigator at a median $126,800 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Great Falls
The 3 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 3 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Great Falls. Distances are calculated from Great Falls city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Providence | Great Falls, MT | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Helena College University of Montana | Helena, MT | 71.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Stone Child College | Box Elder, MT | 85.7 mi | $3,610 - $13,607 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Montana schools on the Montana criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Great Falls
Great Falls is part of the Great Falls, MT metro area (BLS area code 24500). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Montana statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $93,920 | Great Falls, MT | $97,025 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $63,260 | MT statewide | $65,351 |
| Police Supervisor | $84,110 | MT statewide | $86,890 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $126,800 | Great Falls, MT | $130,992 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $79,810 | Great Falls, MT | $82,448 |
| Correctional Officer | $49,700 | MT statewide | $51,343 |
| Probation Officer | $48,140 | Great Falls, MT | $49,731 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $78,610 | MT statewide | $81,209 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $52,210 | Great Falls, MT | $53,936 |
| Information Security Analyst | $88,040 | Great Falls, MT | $90,950 |
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.
Great Falls at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 60,412 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $63,934 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 28.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 96.8 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Great Falls-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Helena, MT – 71.2 mi away (49,812 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Great Falls, MT?
Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Great Falls. The closest is University of Providence in Great Falls, MT (1.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Stone Child College (85.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Great Falls?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Great Falls are: Detective or Criminal Investigator ($126,800), Attorney ($93,920), Information Security Analyst ($88,040). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Montana statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Helena instead of Great Falls?
Helena, MT is 71.2 miles from Great Falls 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 Great Falls an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Great Falls’s median household income of $63,934 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Great Falls while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Montana 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 Montana
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
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.
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