Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Charlottesville, VA (2026)
Charlottesville, Virginia has a population of about 45,863. The city’s median household income is $69,829 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 60.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Charlottesville. In the Charlottesville, VA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $132,240 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Charlottesville
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Charlottesville city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | Charlottesville, VA | 0.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | Charlottesville, VA | 0.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Weyers Cave, VA | 29.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Germanna Community College | Locust Grove, VA | 41.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Longwood University | Farmville, VA | 51.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Virginia schools on the Virginia criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Charlottesville
Charlottesville is part of the Charlottesville, VA metro area (BLS area code 16820). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Virginia statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $132,240 | Charlottesville, VA | $133,441 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $104,000 | Charlottesville, VA | $104,945 |
| Police Supervisor | $86,260 | Charlottesville, VA | $87,043 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $91,380 | Charlottesville, VA | $92,210 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $58,590 | Charlottesville, VA | $59,122 |
| Correctional Officer | $52,220 | Charlottesville, VA | $52,694 |
| Probation Officer | $57,110 | Charlottesville, VA | $57,629 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $62,860 | VA statewide | $63,431 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $58,550 | Charlottesville, VA | $59,082 |
| Information Security Analyst | $120,480 | Charlottesville, VA | $121,574 |
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.
Charlottesville at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 45,863 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $69,829 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 60.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 99.1 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Charlottesville-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Waynesboro, VA – 22.7 mi away (21,887 pop)
- Staunton, VA – 32.4 mi away (58,077 pop)
- Harrisonburg, VA – 34.7 mi away (72,470 pop)
- Fredericksburg, VA – 57.2 mi away (164,610 pop)
- Lynchburg, VA – 58.5 mi away (123,795 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Charlottesville, VA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Charlottesville. The closest is Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville, VA (0.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Longwood University (51.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Charlottesville?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Charlottesville are: Attorney ($132,240), Information Security Analyst ($120,480), Judge or Magistrate ($104,000). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Virginia statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Waynesboro instead of Charlottesville?
Waynesboro, VA is 22.7 miles from Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Charlottesville’s median household income of $69,829 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Charlottesville while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Virginia 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 Virginia
- Main Criminal Justice Degree Guide
- Criminal Justice Programs by State
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