Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Friendswood, TX (2026)
Friendswood, Texas has a population of about 40,827. The city’s median household income is $125,052 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 49.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Friendswood, with tuition ranging from $1,773 to $8,014 per year. In the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $166,120 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Friendswood
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Friendswood city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvin Community College | Alvin, TX | 8.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena, TX | 11.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| College of the Mainland | Texas City, TX | 14.2 mi | $1,773 - $8,014 | – |
| Texas Southern University | Houston, TX | 17.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Houston Community College | Houston, TX | 19.3 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 Friendswood
Friendswood is part of the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area (BLS area code 26420). 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 | $139,460 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $141,440 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $166,120 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $168,479 |
| Police Supervisor | $110,030 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $111,592 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $86,440 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $87,667 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $75,450 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $76,521 |
| Correctional Officer | $51,020 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $51,744 |
| Probation Officer | $51,900 | TX statewide | $52,637 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $67,440 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $68,398 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $64,750 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $65,669 |
| Information Security Analyst | $120,170 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $121,876 |
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.
Friendswood at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,827 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $125,052 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 49.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 98.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Friendswood-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- League City, TX – 5.6 mi away (102,010 pop)
- Pearland, TX – 8.0 mi away (113,570 pop)
- Dickinson, TX – 9.3 mi away (20,074 pop)
- Alvin, TX – 10.6 mi away (26,164 pop)
- Pasadena, TX – 10.6 mi away (153,351 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Friendswood, TX?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Friendswood. The closest is Alvin Community College in Alvin, TX (8.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Houston Community College (19.3 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Friendswood?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Friendswood are: Judge or Magistrate ($166,120), Attorney ($139,460), Information Security Analyst ($120,170). 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 League City instead of Friendswood?
League City, TX is 5.6 miles from Friendswood 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 Friendswood an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Friendswood’s median household income of $125,052 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Friendswood 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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