Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Lynchburg, VA (2026)

Lynchburg, Virginia has a population of about 79,255. The city’s median household income is $59,808 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 38.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Lynchburg. In the Lynchburg, VA metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Information Security Analyst at a median $129,510 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Lynchburg

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Lynchburg city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Central Virginia Community CollegeLynchburg, VA2.9 miContact school for pricing
Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA3.5 miContact school for pricing
Longwood UniversityFarmville, VA44.3 miContact school for pricing
Virginia Western Community CollegeRoanoke, VA44.4 miContact school for pricing
Mountain Gateway Community CollegeClifton Forge, VA46.0 miContact school for pricing

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Virginia schools on the Virginia criminal justice page.


Criminal Justice Wages Near Lynchburg

Lynchburg is part of the Lynchburg, VA metro area (BLS area code 31340). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Virginia statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Attorney$118,610Lynchburg, VA$132,673
Judge or Magistrate$104,000Lynchburg, VA$116,331
Police Supervisor$97,040Lynchburg, VA$108,546
Detective or Criminal Investigator$97,090Lynchburg, VA$108,602
Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$57,650Lynchburg, VA$64,485
Correctional Officer$49,130Lynchburg, VA$54,955
Probation Officer$44,640Lynchburg, VA$49,933
Forensic Science Technician$62,860VA statewide$70,313
Paralegal or Legal Assistant$49,330Lynchburg, VA$55,179
Information Security Analyst$129,510Lynchburg, VA$144,866

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.


Lynchburg at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population79,255Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$59,808Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+38.5%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)89.4 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Lynchburg-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Lynchburg, VA?

Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Lynchburg. The closest is Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, VA (2.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Mountain Gateway Community College (46.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Lynchburg?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Lynchburg are: Information Security Analyst ($129,510), Attorney ($118,610), 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 Roanoke instead of Lynchburg?

Roanoke, VA is 43.0 miles from Lynchburg 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 Lynchburg an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Lynchburg’s median household income of $59,808 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lynchburg 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.