Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Columbia, SC (2026)
Columbia, South Carolina has a population of about 138,019. The city’s median household income is $55,653 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 46.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 42 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Columbia, with tuition ranging from $5,715 to $13,295 per year for indexed programs. In the Columbia, SC metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $103,000 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Columbia
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 42 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Columbia. Distances are calculated from Columbia city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [South University-Columbia](https://www.southuniversity.edu/columbia#location=Columbia, SC) | Columbia, SC | 5.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Benedict College | Columbia, SC | 6.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Allen University | Columbia, SC | 6.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Columbia College | Columbia, SC | 7.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | Columbia, SC | 7.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Midlands Technical College | West Columbia, SC | 13.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Central Carolina Technical College | Sumter, SC | 31.4 mi | $5,715 - $13,295 | – |
| Morris College | Sumter, SC | 32.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College | Orangeburg, SC | 34.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Claflin University | Orangeburg, SC | 37.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Carolina schools on the South Carolina criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Columbia
Columbia is part of the Columbia, SC metro area (BLS area code 17900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to South Carolina statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $103,000 | Columbia, SC | $109,925 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $99,240 | Columbia, SC | $105,912 |
| Police Supervisor | $79,480 | Columbia, SC | $84,824 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $66,440 | Columbia, SC | $70,907 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $60,750 | Columbia, SC | $64,835 |
| Correctional Officer | $45,330 | Columbia, SC | $48,378 |
| Probation Officer | $61,700 | Columbia, SC | $65,848 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $44,490 | Columbia, SC | $47,481 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $49,730 | Columbia, SC | $53,074 |
| Information Security Analyst | N/A | SC statewide | – |
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.
Columbia at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 138,019 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $55,653 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 46.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 93.7 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Columbia-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Lexington, SC – 18.4 mi away (20,988 pop)
- Sumter, SC – 30.1 mi away (73,468 pop)
- Orangeburg, SC – 37.6 mi away (31,666 pop)
- Lancaster, SC – 48.1 mi away (25,691 pop)
- Aiken, SC – 58.8 mi away (30,937 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Columbia, SC?
Our directory has 42 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Columbia. The closest is South University-Columbia in Columbia, SC (5.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Claflin University (37.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Columbia?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Columbia are: Attorney ($103,000), Judge or Magistrate ($99,240), Police Supervisor ($79,480). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with South Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Lexington instead of Columbia?
Lexington, SC is 18.4 miles from Columbia 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 Columbia an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Columbia’s median household income of $55,653 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Columbia while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and South Carolina 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 South Carolina
- 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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