Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Madison, WI (2026)
Madison, Wisconsin has a population of about 275,568. The city’s median household income is $76,983 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 59.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 39 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Madison, with tuition ranging from $4,696 to $12,397 per year for indexed programs. In the Madison, WI metro area, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Police Supervisor at a median $115,590 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Madison
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 39 schools in our directory that offer criminal justice programs near Madison. Distances are calculated from Madison city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgewood College | Madison, WI | 2.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Madison Area Technical College | Madison, WI | 4.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Herzing University-Madison | Madison, WI | 6.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Maranatha Baptist University | Watertown, WI | 34.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | Whitewater, WI | 37.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Blackhawk Technical College | Janesville, WI | 38.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Highland Community College | Freeport, IL | 56.9 mi | $4,696 - $12,397 | – |
| Rock Valley College | Rockford, IL | 57.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Waukesha County Technical College | Pewaukee, WI | 57.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Carroll University | Waukesha, WI | 59.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Wisconsin schools on the Wisconsin criminal justice page.
Criminal Justice Wages Near Madison
Madison is part of the Madison, WI metro area (BLS area code 31540). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Wisconsin statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $114,420 | Madison, WI | $117,595 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $83,620 | WI statewide | $85,940 |
| Police Supervisor | $115,590 | Madison, WI | $118,798 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $101,690 | Madison, WI | $104,512 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $83,120 | Madison, WI | $85,427 |
| Correctional Officer | $76,560 | Madison, WI | $78,684 |
| Probation Officer | $58,700 | Madison, WI | $60,329 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $60,150 | Madison, WI | $61,819 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $59,680 | Madison, WI | $61,336 |
| Information Security Analyst | $98,850 | Madison, WI | $101,593 |
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.
Madison at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 275,568 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $76,983 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 59.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.3 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Madison-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs
- Fitchburg, WI – 6.8 mi away (28,875 pop)
- Sun Prairie, WI – 10.6 mi away (32,820 pop)
- Fort Atkinson, WI – 29.7 mi away (21,399 pop)
- Janesville, WI – 33.4 mi away (70,299 pop)
- Watertown, WI – 34.3 mi away (23,304 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited criminal justice schools are near Madison, WI?
Our directory has 39 accredited schools offering criminal justice programs near Madison. The closest is Edgewood College in Madison, WI (2.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Carroll University (59.0 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Madison?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Madison are: Police Supervisor ($115,590), Attorney ($114,420), Detective or Criminal Investigator ($101,690). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Wisconsin statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Fitchburg instead of Madison?
Fitchburg, WI is 6.8 miles from Madison 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 Madison an affordable place to study criminal justice?
Madison’s median household income of $76,983 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Madison while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin
- 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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