Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Houston, TX (2026)
Houston, Texas has a population of about 2,300,419. The city’s median household income is $62,894 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 22 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Houston, with tuition ranging from $2,166 to $24,909 per year for indexed programs. 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 Houston
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 22 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Houston. Distances are calculated from Houston city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Houston-Downtown | Houston, TX | 2.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Houston Community College | Houston, TX | 3.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of St Thomas | Houston, TX | 3.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Texas Southern University | Houston, TX | 5.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Houston Christian University | Houston, TX | 9.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| American InterContinental University-Houston | Houston, TX | 10.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North American University | Stafford, TX | 15.2 mi | $12,836 - $24,909 | – |
| San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena, TX | 18.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lee College | Baytown, TX | 25.2 mi | $2,166 - $12,050 | – |
| Lone Star College System | The Woodlands, TX | 28.2 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 Houston
Houston 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.
Houston at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,300,419 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $62,894 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 36.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 98.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Houston-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Pearland, TX – 16.4 mi away (113,570 pop)
- Pasadena, TX – 17.1 mi away (153,351 pop)
- Missouri City, TX – 17.7 mi away (74,561 pop)
- Deer Park, TX – 18.0 mi away (33,782 pop)
- Sugar Land, TX – 19.3 mi away (88,177 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Houston, TX?
Our directory has 22 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Houston. The closest is University of Houston-Downtown in Houston, TX (2.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Lone Star College System (28.2 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Houston?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Houston 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 Pearland instead of Houston?
Pearland, TX is 16.4 miles from Houston 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 Houston an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Houston’s median household income of $62,894 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Houston 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
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; 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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