Fargo, North Dakota has a population of about 129,064. The city’s median household income is $66,029 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 43.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Fargo, with tuition ranging from $12,715 to $24,675 per year. In the Fargo, ND-MN metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Information Security Analyst at a median $112,330 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Fargo city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen University-North Dakota | Fargo, ND | 2.0 mi | $12,715 - $24,675 | – |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus | Fargo, ND | 2.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead | Moorhead, MN | 3.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Fergus Falls, MN | 52.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, ND | 74.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Dakota schools on the North Dakota criminal justice page.
Fargo is part of the Fargo, ND-MN metro area (BLS area code 22020). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to North Dakota statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $103,320 | Fargo, ND-MN | $113,663 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | ND statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $107,480 | Fargo, ND-MN | $118,240 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $86,160 | Fargo, ND-MN | $94,785 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $78,840 | Fargo, ND-MN | $86,733 |
| Correctional Officer | $54,700 | Fargo, ND-MN | $60,176 |
| Probation Officer | $66,190 | Fargo, ND-MN | $72,816 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $74,470 | ND statewide | $81,925 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $59,680 | Fargo, ND-MN | $65,655 |
| Information Security Analyst | $112,330 | Fargo, ND-MN | $123,575 |
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.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 129,064 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $66,029 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 43.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 90.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Fargo. The closest is Rasmussen University-North Dakota in Fargo, ND (2.0 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of North Dakota (74.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Fargo are: Information Security Analyst ($112,330), Police Supervisor ($107,480), Attorney ($103,320). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with North Dakota statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
West Fargo, ND is 3.6 miles from Fargo 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.
Fargo’s median household income of $66,029 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Fargo while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Dakota public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
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.
Return to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in North Dakota (2026)