Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Hazleton, PA (2026)
Hazleton, Pennsylvania has a population of about 29,886. The city’s median household income is $43,379 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 11.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Hazleton, with tuition ranging from $6,450 to $15,810 per year. In the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Information Security Analyst at a median $102,750 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Hazleton
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Hazleton city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton | Hazleton, PA | 0.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke, PA | 16.9 mi | $6,450 - $15,810 | – |
| King’s College | Wilkes-Barre, PA | 21.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill | Schuylkill Haven, PA | 24.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg, PA | 25.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Pennsylvania schools on the Pennsylvania criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Hazleton
Hazleton is part of the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area (BLS area code 42540). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Pennsylvania statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $102,480 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $109,487 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | PA statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $88,900 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $94,979 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $81,480 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $87,051 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $74,070 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $79,135 |
| Correctional Officer | $66,460 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $71,004 |
| Probation Officer | $62,900 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $67,201 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $57,820 | PA statewide | $61,774 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $49,890 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $53,301 |
| Information Security Analyst | $102,750 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $109,776 |
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.
Hazleton at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,886 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $43,379 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 11.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 93.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Hazleton-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Wilkes-Barre, PA – 21.1 mi away (40,569 pop)
- Pottsville, PA – 22.4 mi away (41,479 pop)
- Bloomsburg, PA – 25.5 mi away (52,637 pop)
- Shamokin, PA – 32.4 mi away (29,054 pop)
- Mount Pocono, PA – 34.1 mi away (23,308 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Hazleton, PA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Hazleton. The closest is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton in Hazleton, PA (0.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (25.4 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Hazleton?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Hazleton are: Information Security Analyst ($102,750), Attorney ($102,480), Police Supervisor ($88,900). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Pennsylvania statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Wilkes-Barre instead of Hazleton?
Wilkes-Barre, PA is 21.1 miles from Hazleton 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 Hazleton an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Hazleton’s median household income of $43,379 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hazleton while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
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