Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Lima, OH (2026)

Lima, Ohio has a population of about 35,304. The city’s median household income is $43,370 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 11.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Lima. In Ohio, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Information Security Analyst at a median $107,570 annually (BLS, May 2024).


Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Lima

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Lima city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
James A. Rhodes State CollegeLima, OH0.4 miContact school for pricing
Apollo Career CenterLima, OH2.1 miContact school for pricing
Ohio Northern UniversityAda, OH14.7 miContact school for pricing
Bluffton UniversityBluffton, OH15.4 miContact school for pricing
Vantage Career CenterVan Wert, OH25.9 miContact school for pricing

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Ohio schools on the Ohio criminal justice page.


Criminal Justice Wages Near Lima

Lima is part of the Lima, OH metro area (BLS area code 30620). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Ohio statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Attorney$81,690Lima, OH$91,070
Judge or Magistrate$100,380Lima, OH$111,906
Police Supervisor$76,910Lima, OH$85,741
Detective or Criminal Investigator$77,940OH statewide$86,890
Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$58,650Lima, OH$65,385
Correctional Officer$56,870Lima, OH$63,400
Probation Officer$60,060Lima, OH$66,957
Forensic Science Technician$73,310OH statewide$81,728
Paralegal or Legal Assistant$58,870OH statewide$65,630
Information Security Analyst$107,570OH statewide$119,922

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.


Lima at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population35,304Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$43,370Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+11.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)89.7 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Lima-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Lima, OH?

Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Lima. The closest is James A. Rhodes State College in Lima, OH (0.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Vantage Career Center (25.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Lima?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Lima are: Information Security Analyst ($107,570), Judge or Magistrate ($100,380), Attorney ($81,690). 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 Sidney instead of Lima?

Sidney, OH is 31.3 miles from Lima 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 Lima an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Lima’s median household income of $43,370 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lima 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.