Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Wilmington, NC (2026)
Wilmington, North Carolina has a population of about 118,578. The city’s median household income is $63,900 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 45.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Wilmington, with tuition ranging from $2,462 to $15,130 per year. In the Wilmington, NC metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Information Security Analyst at a median $119,100 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Wilmington
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Wilmington city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miller-Motte College-Wilmington | Wilmington, NC | 2.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Cape Fear Community College | Wilmington, NC | 4.2 mi | $2,748 - $13,977 | – |
| Brunswick Community College | Bolivia, NC | 23.0 mi | $2,532 - $12,767 | – |
| Coastal Carolina Community College | Jacksonville, NC | 48.2 mi | $2,462 - $15,130 | – |
| James Sprunt Community College | Kenansville, NC | 51.3 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 Wilmington
Wilmington is part of the Wilmington, NC metro area (BLS area code 48900). 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 | $98,460 | Wilmington, NC | $102,137 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | NC statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $85,170 | Wilmington, NC | $88,351 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $62,210 | Wilmington, NC | $64,533 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $53,600 | Wilmington, NC | $55,602 |
| Correctional Officer | $48,240 | Wilmington, NC | $50,041 |
| Probation Officer | $57,820 | Wilmington, NC | $59,979 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $50,460 | NC statewide | $52,344 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $46,780 | Wilmington, NC | $48,527 |
| Information Security Analyst | $119,100 | Wilmington, NC | $123,548 |
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.
Wilmington at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 118,578 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $63,900 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 45.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 96.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Wilmington-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Jacksonville, NC – 45.6 mi away (101,865 pop)
- Myrtle Beach, SC – 66.9 mi away (256,079 pop)
- Lumberton, NC – 70.8 mi away (29,681 pop)
- Conway, SC – 70.9 mi away (22,761 pop)
- Havelock, NC – 74.0 mi away (21,083 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Wilmington, NC?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Wilmington. The closest is Miller-Motte College-Wilmington in Wilmington, NC (2.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is James Sprunt Community College (51.3 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Wilmington?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Wilmington are: Information Security Analyst ($119,100), Attorney ($98,460), Police Supervisor ($85,170). 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 Jacksonville instead of Wilmington?
Jacksonville, NC is 45.6 miles from Wilmington 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 Wilmington an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Wilmington’s median household income of $63,900 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Wilmington 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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