Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Hilton Head Island, SC (2026)

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina has a population of about 37,805. The city’s median household income is $96,715 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 55.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Hilton Head Island, with tuition ranging from $3,072 to $14,545 per year. In the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Police Supervisor at a median $118,190 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Hilton Head Island

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

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Technical College of the LowcountryBeaufort, SC16.3 miContact school for pricing
Savannah Technical CollegeSavannah, GA24.3 mi$3,072 - $14,545
[South University-Savannah Online](https://www.southuniversity.edu/online#location=Online Programs)Savannah, GA24.6 miContact school for pricing
[South University-Savannah](https://www.southuniversity.edu/savannah#location=Savannah, GA)Savannah, GA24.6 miContact school for pricing
Citadel Military College of South CarolinaCharleston, SC62.2 miContact 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 Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island is part of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area (BLS area code 25940). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to South Carolina statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Attorney$96,190Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC$98,153
Judge or Magistrate$84,270SC statewide$85,990
Police Supervisor$118,190Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC$120,602
Detective or Criminal Investigator$63,060SC statewide$64,347
Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$60,150Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC$61,378
Correctional Officer$52,390Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC$53,459
Probation Officer$56,090SC statewide$57,235
Forensic Science Technician$49,960SC statewide$50,980
Paralegal or Legal Assistant$48,420Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC$49,408
Information Security Analyst$96,150Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC$98,112

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.


Hilton Head Island at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population37,805Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$96,715Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+55.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)98.0 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Hilton Head Island-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Hilton Head Island, SC?

Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Hilton Head Island. The closest is Technical College of the Lowcountry in Beaufort, SC (16.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Citadel Military College of South Carolina (62.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Hilton Head Island?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Hilton Head Island are: Police Supervisor ($118,190), Attorney ($96,190), Information Security Analyst ($96,150). 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 Beaufort instead of Hilton Head Island?

Beaufort, SC is 18.1 miles from Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Hilton Head Island’s median household income of $96,715 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hilton Head Island 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.