Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Matthews, NC (2026)
Matthews, North Carolina has a population of about 29,959. The city’s median household income is $105,579 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 53.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Matthews, with tuition ranging from $2,792 to $57,780 per year. In the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $137,270 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Matthews
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Matthews city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte, NC | 9.6 mi | $2,792 - $10,951 | – |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | 13.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wingate University | Wingate, NC | 17.8 mi | $40,196 - $57,780 | – |
| York Technical College | Rock Hill, SC | 20.5 mi | $5,512 - $15,399 | – |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont, NC | 20.9 mi | $19,500 - $32,494 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Carolina schools on the North Carolina criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Matthews
Matthews is part of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area (BLS area code 16740). 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 | $137,270 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $141,079 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $74,170 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $76,228 |
| Police Supervisor | $103,870 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $106,752 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $69,530 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $71,459 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $65,230 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $67,040 |
| Correctional Officer | $53,010 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $54,481 |
| Probation Officer | $60,410 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $62,086 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $50,420 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $51,819 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $53,550 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $55,036 |
| Information Security Analyst | $127,840 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $131,387 |
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.
Matthews at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,959 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $105,579 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 53.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.3 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Matthews-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Indian Trail, NC – 5.0 mi away (38,222 pop)
- Mint Hill, NC – 5.1 mi away (26,236 pop)
- Charlotte, NC – 9.2 mi away (1,438,351 pop)
- Monroe, NC – 11.6 mi away (34,818 pop)
- Concord, NC – 19.4 mi away (244,273 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Matthews, NC?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Matthews. The closest is Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC (9.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Belmont Abbey College (20.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Matthews?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Matthews are: Attorney ($137,270), Information Security Analyst ($127,840), Police Supervisor ($103,870). 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 Indian Trail instead of Matthews?
Indian Trail, NC is 5.0 miles from Matthews 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 Matthews an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Matthews’s median household income of $105,579 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Matthews 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
Back to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in North Carolina (2026)
Return to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in North Carolina (2026)