Northern State University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Aberdeen, SD (2026)
Aberdeen, South Dakota has 2 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs. Aberdeen has a population of about 28,297. Median household income is $63,715 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 33.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In South Dakota, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Information Security Analyst at a median $116,640 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Aberdeen
The 2 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 2 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Aberdeen. Distances are calculated from Aberdeen city center.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Aberdeen. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Lake Area Technical College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all South Dakota schools on the South Dakota criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Aberdeen
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (South Dakota, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Attorney | $102,040 |
| Judge or Magistrate | N/A |
| Police Supervisor | $87,810 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $77,730 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $60,740 |
| Correctional Officer | $53,040 |
| Probation Officer | $66,870 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $51,690 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $58,320 |
| Information Security Analyst | $116,640 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 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.
Aberdeen at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,297 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $63,715 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 33.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
Other Aberdeen-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Watertown, SD – 74.6 mi away (21,788 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Aberdeen, SD?
Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Aberdeen. The closest is Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD (1.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Lake Area Technical College (77.3 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles in South Dakota?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles in South Dakota are: Information Security Analyst ($116,640), Attorney ($102,040), Police Supervisor ($87,810). Wages for Aberdeen workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Watertown instead of Aberdeen?
Watertown, SD is 74.6 miles from Aberdeen 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 Aberdeen an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Aberdeen’s median household income of $63,715 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Aberdeen while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and South Dakota 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.
Learn More About Criminal Justice Programs
- Criminal Justice accreditation: what to look for
- Criminal Justice concentrations and specializations
- Is a Criminal Justice degree worth it?
- Main Criminal Justice degree guide
- Online Criminal Justice programs in South Dakota
- Criminal Justice programs by state
Other Programs Available in Aberdeen
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Aberdeen:
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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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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