Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Princeton, NJ (2026)
Princeton, New Jersey has a population of about 30,451. The city’s median household income is $184,113 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 84.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Princeton. In the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $200,150 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Princeton
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Princeton city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rider University | Lawrenceville, NJ | 4.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mercer County Community College | West Windsor, NJ | 7.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The College of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ | 8.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Thomas Edison State University | Trenton, NJ | 10.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Brunswick, NJ | 15.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all New Jersey schools on the New Jersey criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Princeton
Princeton is part of the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area (BLS area code 45940). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to New Jersey statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $130,330 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $126,289 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $200,150 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $193,944 |
| Police Supervisor | $148,270 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $143,672 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $107,290 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $103,963 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $76,480 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $74,109 |
| Correctional Officer | $90,150 | NJ statewide | $87,355 |
| Probation Officer | $78,830 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $76,386 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $54,230 | NJ statewide | $52,548 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $75,380 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $73,043 |
| Information Security Analyst | $129,970 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $125,940 |
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.
Princeton at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 30,451 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $184,113 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 84.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.2 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Princeton-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Trenton, NJ – 10.4 mi away (293,697 pop)
- New Brunswick, NJ – 14.9 mi away (56,910 pop)
- Sayreville, NJ – 19.7 mi away (44,905 pop)
- South Plainfield, NJ – 20.2 mi away (24,221 pop)
- North Plainfield, NJ – 21.9 mi away (22,073 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Princeton, NJ?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Princeton. The closest is Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ (4.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Rutgers University-New Brunswick (15.3 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Princeton?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Princeton are: Judge or Magistrate ($200,150), Police Supervisor ($148,270), Attorney ($130,330). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with New Jersey statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Trenton instead of Princeton?
Trenton, NJ is 10.4 miles from Princeton 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 Princeton an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Princeton’s median household income of $184,113 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Princeton while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and New Jersey 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 Jersey
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
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