Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Saint Helens, OR (2026)
Saint Helens, Oregon has a population of about 14,152. The city’s median household income is $82,123 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Saint Helens, with tuition ranging from $5,040 to $30,138 per year. In the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $174,100 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Saint Helens
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Saint Helens city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Columbia College | Longview, WA | 20.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Portland State University | Portland, OR | 24.6 mi | $11,238 - $30,138 | – |
| Portland Community College | Portland, OR | 29.0 mi | $5,040 - $17,271 | – |
| Mt Hood Community College | Gresham, OR | 31.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Clackamas Community College | Oregon City, OR | 38.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Oregon schools on the Oregon criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Saint Helens
Saint Helens is part of the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area (BLS area code 38900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Oregon statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $161,420 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $153,150 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $174,100 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $165,180 |
| Police Supervisor | $127,090 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $120,579 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $121,530 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $115,304 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $97,070 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $92,097 |
| Correctional Officer | $87,590 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $83,102 |
| Probation Officer | $81,130 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $76,973 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $86,150 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $81,736 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $74,470 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $70,655 |
| Information Security Analyst | $126,640 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $120,152 |
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.
Saint Helens at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,152 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $82,123 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 16.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 105.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Saint Helens-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Battle Ground, WA – 14.4 mi away (20,110 pop)
- Vancouver, WA – 18.6 mi away (174,826 pop)
- Longview, WA – 21.3 mi away (65,156 pop)
- Hillsboro, OR – 23.4 mi away (105,164 pop)
- Portland, OR – 23.5 mi away (2,027,629 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Saint Helens, OR?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Saint Helens. The closest is Lower Columbia College in Longview, WA (20.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Clackamas Community College (38.6 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Saint Helens?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Saint Helens are: Judge or Magistrate ($174,100), Attorney ($161,420), Police Supervisor ($127,090). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Oregon statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Battle Ground instead of Saint Helens?
Battle Ground, WA is 14.4 miles from Saint Helens 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 Saint Helens an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Saint Helens’s median household income of $82,123 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Saint Helens while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Oregon 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 Oregon
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
Back to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Oregon (2026)
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