Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Wake Forest, NC (2026)
Wake Forest, North Carolina has a population of about 51,199. The city’s median household income is $120,777 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 57.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Wake Forest. In the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $128,130 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Wake Forest
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Wake Forest city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Augustine’s University | Raleigh, NC | 13.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Shaw University | Raleigh, NC | 14.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Meredith College | Raleigh, NC | 15.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham, NC | 20.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham, NC | 21.5 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 Wake Forest
Wake Forest is part of the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area (BLS area code 39580). 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 | $128,130 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $130,479 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | NC statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $102,270 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $104,145 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $69,620 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $70,896 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $65,800 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $67,006 |
| Correctional Officer | $52,490 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $53,452 |
| Probation Officer | $63,300 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $64,460 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $53,600 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $54,582 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $57,620 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $58,676 |
| Information Security Analyst | $115,990 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $118,116 |
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.
Wake Forest at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 51,199 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $120,777 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 57.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 98.2 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Wake Forest-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Raleigh, NC – 11.6 mi away (1,005,457 pop)
- Garner, NC – 19.5 mi away (28,776 pop)
- Morrisville, NC – 20.0 mi away (24,732 pop)
- Cary, NC – 21.0 mi away (162,320 pop)
- Clayton, NC – 21.3 mi away (20,260 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Wake Forest, NC?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Wake Forest. The closest is Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, NC (13.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is North Carolina Central University (21.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Wake Forest?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Wake Forest are: Attorney ($128,130), Information Security Analyst ($115,990), Police Supervisor ($102,270). 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 Raleigh instead of Wake Forest?
Raleigh, NC is 11.6 miles from Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Wake Forest’s median household income of $120,777 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Wake Forest 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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