Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in New Castle, PA (2026)
New Castle, Pennsylvania has a population of about 21,727. The city’s median household income is $41,478 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 15.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of New Castle, with tuition ranging from $10,507 to $24,781 per year. In the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $125,870 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to New Castle
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from New Castle city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geneva College | Beaver Falls, PA | 15.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock, PA | 16.6 mi | $10,507 - $24,781 | – |
| Youngstown State University | Youngstown, OH | 17.5 mi | $10,791 - $20,028 | – |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango | Sharon, PA | 18.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver | Monaca, PA | 21.7 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 New Castle
New Castle is part of the Pittsburgh, PA metro area (BLS area code 38300). 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 | $125,870 | Pittsburgh, PA | $132,914 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A | PA statewide | – |
| Police Supervisor | $101,930 | Pittsburgh, PA | $107,635 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $85,430 | Pittsburgh, PA | $90,211 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $82,270 | Pittsburgh, PA | $86,874 |
| Correctional Officer | $61,150 | Pittsburgh, PA | $64,572 |
| Probation Officer | $74,890 | Pittsburgh, PA | $79,081 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $50,640 | Pittsburgh, PA | $53,474 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $60,710 | Pittsburgh, PA | $64,108 |
| Information Security Analyst | $103,470 | Pittsburgh, PA | $109,261 |
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.
New Castle at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,727 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $41,478 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 15.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 94.7 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other New Castle-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Youngstown, OH – 17.2 mi away (372,039 pop)
- Butler, PA – 25.2 mi away (38,588 pop)
- East Liverpool, OH – 27.6 mi away (30,292 pop)
- Warren, OH – 29.8 mi away (39,898 pop)
- Alliance, OH – 40.8 mi away (31,917 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near New Castle, PA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of New Castle. The closest is Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA (15.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver (21.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near New Castle?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near New Castle are: Attorney ($125,870), Information Security Analyst ($103,470), Police Supervisor ($101,930). 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 Youngstown instead of New Castle?
Youngstown, OH is 17.2 miles from New Castle 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 New Castle an affordable place to study criminal justice?
New Castle’s median household income of $41,478 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in New Castle 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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