Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Cleveland, OH (2026)
Cleveland, Ohio has a population of about 367,523. The city’s median household income is $39,187 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 60 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Cleveland. In the Cleveland, OH metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $128,460 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Cleveland
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 60 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Cleveland. Distances are calculated from Cleveland city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland, OH | 1.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Remington College-Cleveland Campus | Cleveland, OH | 6.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lakewood University | Cleveland Heights, OH | 7.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | ✓ |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Parma | Parma, OH | 7.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Notre Dame College | Cleveland, OH | 8.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Polaris Career Center | Middleburg Heights, OH | 11.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Berea, OH | 11.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lakeland Community College | Kirtland, OH | 19.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lorain County Community College | Elyria, OH | 20.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Medina County Career Center | Medina, OH | 25.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Ohio schools on the Ohio criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Cleveland
Cleveland is part of the Cleveland, OH metro area (BLS area code 17410). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Ohio statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $128,460 | Cleveland, OH | $136,805 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $89,630 | Cleveland, OH | $95,453 |
| Police Supervisor | $101,430 | Cleveland, OH | $108,019 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $86,250 | Cleveland, OH | $91,853 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $81,730 | Cleveland, OH | $87,039 |
| Correctional Officer | $63,900 | Cleveland, OH | $68,051 |
| Probation Officer | $60,600 | Cleveland, OH | $64,537 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $73,310 | OH statewide | $78,072 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $59,370 | Cleveland, OH | $63,227 |
| Information Security Analyst | $105,990 | Cleveland, OH | $112,875 |
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.
Cleveland at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 367,523 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $39,187 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 21.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 93.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Cleveland-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Garfield Heights, OH – 5.6 mi away (27,905 pop)
- Lakewood, OH – 6.2 mi away (50,279 pop)
- Cleveland Heights, OH – 6.5 mi away (44,633 pop)
- Shaker Heights, OH – 6.8 mi away (27,448 pop)
- Parma, OH – 6.9 mi away (79,425 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Cleveland, OH?
Our directory has 60 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Cleveland. The closest is Cuyahoga Community College District in Cleveland, OH (1.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Medina County Career Center (25.0 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Cleveland?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Cleveland are: Attorney ($128,460), Information Security Analyst ($105,990), Police Supervisor ($101,430). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Ohio statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Garfield Heights instead of Cleveland?
Garfield Heights, OH is 5.6 miles from Cleveland 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 Cleveland an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Cleveland’s median household income of $39,187 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Cleveland while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Ohio 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 Ohio
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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