Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Virginia Beach, VA (2026)
Virginia Beach, Virginia has a population of about 457,066. The city’s median household income is $90,685 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 40.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Virginia Beach. In the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Attorney at a median $126,250 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Virginia Beach
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Virginia Beach city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [South University-Virginia Beach](https://www.southuniversity.edu/virginia-beach#location=Virginia Beach, VA) | Virginia Beach, VA | 8.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach, VA | 8.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Regent University | Virginia Beach, VA | 9.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| ECPI University | Virginia Beach, VA | 10.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach, VA | 12.5 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 Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is part of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area (BLS area code 47260). 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 | $126,250 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $128,958 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $104,000 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $106,231 |
| Police Supervisor | $96,130 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $98,192 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $91,960 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $93,933 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $59,030 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $60,296 |
| Correctional Officer | $49,310 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $50,368 |
| Probation Officer | $57,830 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $59,070 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $59,230 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $60,501 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $59,090 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $60,358 |
| Information Security Analyst | $108,370 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $110,695 |
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.
Virginia Beach at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 457,066 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $90,685 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 40.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Virginia Beach-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Chesapeake, VA – 14.8 mi away (237,940 pop)
- Norfolk, VA – 16.3 mi away (245,115 pop)
- Portsmouth, VA – 18.9 mi away (95,252 pop)
- Hampton, VA – 28.4 mi away (135,410 pop)
- Elizabeth City, NC – 32.1 mi away (22,934 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Virginia Beach, VA?
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Virginia Beach. The closest is South University-Virginia Beach in Virginia Beach, VA (8.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Virginia Wesleyan University (12.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Virginia Beach?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Virginia Beach are: Attorney ($126,250), Information Security Analyst ($108,370), 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 Chesapeake instead of Virginia Beach?
Chesapeake, VA is 14.8 miles from Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Virginia Beach’s median household income of $90,685 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Virginia Beach 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
Back to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Virginia (2026)
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