Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Rochester, NH (2026)
Rochester, New Hampshire has a population of about 32,866. The city’s median household income is $79,388 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 26.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Rochester, with tuition ranging from $7,200 to $23,210 per year. In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $221,710 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Rochester
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Rochester city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Bay Community College | Portsmouth, NH | 18.1 mi | $7,200 - $22,016 | – |
| York County Community College | Wells, ME | 19.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| NHTI-Concord’s Community College | Concord, NH | 28.3 mi | $7,200 - $23,210 | – |
| University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online | Manchester, NH | 32.8 mi | $7,812 - $19,236 | – |
| Northern Essex Community College | Haverhill, MA | 34.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all New Hampshire schools on the New Hampshire criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Rochester
Rochester is part of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area (BLS area code 14460). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to New Hampshire statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $194,740 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $179,815 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $221,710 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $204,718 |
| Police Supervisor | $107,100 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $98,892 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $111,460 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $102,918 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $78,610 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $72,585 |
| Correctional Officer | $81,850 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $75,577 |
| Probation Officer | $90,350 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $83,426 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $74,910 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $69,169 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $77,470 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $71,533 |
| Information Security Analyst | $132,170 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $122,041 |
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.
Rochester at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,866 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $79,388 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 26.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.3 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Rochester-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Dover, NH – 9.0 mi away (91,514 pop)
- Sanford, ME – 14.1 mi away (29,139 pop)
- Portsmouth, NH – 19.4 mi away (91,193 pop)
- Biddeford, ME – 28.9 mi away (21,362 pop)
- Concord, NH – 29.6 mi away (42,821 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Rochester, NH?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Rochester. The closest is Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, NH (18.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Northern Essex Community College (34.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Rochester?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Rochester are: Judge or Magistrate ($221,710), Attorney ($194,740), Information Security Analyst ($132,170). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with New Hampshire statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Dover instead of Rochester?
Dover, NH is 9.0 miles from Rochester 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 Rochester an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Rochester’s median household income of $79,388 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Rochester while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
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