Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Brownsville, TX (2026)
Brownsville, Texas has a population of about 188,023. The city’s median household income is $48,675 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 3 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Brownsville. In the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Detective or Criminal Investigator at a median $107,240 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Brownsville
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Brownsville city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Southmost College | Brownsville, TX | 7.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg, TX | 49.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| South Texas College | McAllen, TX | 51.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Texas schools on the Texas criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Brownsville
Brownsville is part of the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area (BLS area code 15180). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Texas statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $78,450 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $91,221 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $54,290 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $63,128 |
| Police Supervisor | $77,060 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $89,605 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $107,240 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $124,698 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $57,490 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $66,849 |
| Correctional Officer | $34,880 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $40,558 |
| Probation Officer | $42,020 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $48,860 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $55,830 | TX statewide | $64,919 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $45,720 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $53,163 |
| Information Security Analyst | $98,560 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $114,605 |
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.
Brownsville at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 188,023 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $48,675 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 22.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 86.0 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Brownsville-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- San Benito, TX – 14.8 mi away (24,476 pop)
- Harlingen, TX – 20.1 mi away (137,119 pop)
- Weslaco, TX – 34.9 mi away (40,033 pop)
- San Juan, TX – 45.2 mi away (36,663 pop)
- Pharr, TX – 47.0 mi away (77,320 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Brownsville, TX?
Our directory lists 3 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Brownsville. The closest is Texas Southmost College in Brownsville, TX (7.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is South Texas College (51.8 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Brownsville?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Brownsville are: Detective or Criminal Investigator ($107,240), Information Security Analyst ($98,560), Attorney ($78,450). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Texas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in San Benito instead of Brownsville?
San Benito, TX is 14.8 miles from Brownsville 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 Brownsville an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Brownsville’s median household income of $48,675 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Brownsville while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Texas 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 Texas
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
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