Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Harker Heights, TX (2026)
Harker Heights, Texas has a population of about 33,595. The city’s median household income is $82,685 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Harker Heights, with tuition ranging from $33,150 to $45,235 per year. In Texas, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $139,990 annually (BLS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Harker Heights
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Harker Heights city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M University-Central Texas | Killeen, TX | 7.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Central Texas College | Killeen, TX | 10.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | Belton, TX | 10.6 mi | $33,150 - $45,235 | – |
| Temple College | Temple, TX | 17.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| [South University-Austin](https://www.southuniversity.edu/austin#location=Austin, TX) | Round Rock, TX | 40.1 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 Harker Heights
Harker Heights is part of the Killeen-Temple, TX metro area (BLS area code 28660). 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 | $122,180 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $134,116 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $139,990 | TX statewide | $153,666 |
| Police Supervisor | $100,420 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $110,231 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $60,120 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $65,993 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $77,620 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $85,203 |
| Correctional Officer | $51,020 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $56,004 |
| Probation Officer | $44,940 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $49,330 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $55,830 | TX statewide | $61,284 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $49,000 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $53,787 |
| Information Security Analyst | $103,650 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $113,776 |
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.
Harker Heights at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,595 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $82,685 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 32.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 91.1 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Harker Heights-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Killeen, TX – 5.1 mi away (243,947 pop)
- Belton, TX – 9.8 mi away (20,873 pop)
- Temple, TX – 15.4 mi away (100,641 pop)
- Copperas Cove, TX – 16.5 mi away (32,808 pop)
- Georgetown, TX – 27.2 mi away (67,140 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Harker Heights, TX?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Harker Heights. The closest is Texas A&M University-Central Texas in Killeen, TX (7.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is South University-Austin (40.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Harker Heights?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Harker Heights are: Judge or Magistrate ($139,990), Attorney ($122,180), Information Security Analyst ($103,650). 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 Killeen instead of Harker Heights?
Killeen, TX is 5.1 miles from Harker Heights 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 Harker Heights an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Harker Heights’s median household income of $82,685 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Harker Heights 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
Back to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Texas (2026)
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