Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Asheville, NC (2026)
Asheville, North Carolina has a population of about 94,369. The city’s median household income is $67,221 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 52.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Asheville, with tuition ranging from $2,660 to $13,097 per year. In the Asheville, NC metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $117,420 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Asheville
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Asheville city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Asheville, NC | 0.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Montreat College | Montreat, NC | 15.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill, NC | 17.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Flat Rock, NC | 19.7 mi | $2,660 - $13,097 | – |
| Haywood Community College | Clyde, NC | 21.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Carolina schools on the North Carolina criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Asheville
Asheville is part of the Asheville, NC metro area (BLS area code 11700). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to North Carolina statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $117,420 | Asheville, NC | $121,679 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | NC statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $77,140 | Asheville, NC | $79,938 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $61,770 | Asheville, NC | $64,010 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $54,270 | Asheville, NC | $56,238 |
| Correctional Officer | $50,290 | Asheville, NC | $52,114 |
| Probation Officer | $62,050 | Asheville, NC | $64,301 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $48,860 | Asheville, NC | $50,632 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $50,970 | Asheville, NC | $52,819 |
| Information Security Analyst | $116,990 | Asheville, NC | $121,233 |
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.
Asheville at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 94,369 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $67,221 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 52.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 96.5 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Asheville-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Forest City, NC – 41.8 mi away (25,817 pop)
- Greeneville, TN – 43.9 mi away (23,953 pop)
- Greer, SC – 47.5 mi away (29,000 pop)
- Greenville, SC – 51.8 mi away (462,640 pop)
- Easley, SC – 51.9 mi away (20,953 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Asheville, NC?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Asheville. The closest is Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in Asheville, NC (0.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Haywood Community College (21.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Asheville?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Asheville are: Attorney ($117,420), Information Security Analyst ($116,990), Police Supervisor ($77,140). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with North Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Forest City instead of Asheville?
Forest City, NC is 41.8 miles from Asheville 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 Asheville an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Asheville’s median household income of $67,221 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Asheville while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Carolina 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 North Carolina
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
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