Criminal justice programs in California
Looking for police academy & criminal justice schools in California? There are 109, including 100 public colleges and 9 private career schools. Police officers in California earn a median $118,880 a year, according to the BLS.
- Schools
- 109
- Public colleges
- 100
- Median pay in CA
- $118,880
- Cities with schools
- 61
24 police academy & criminal justice schools
School results
Allan Hancock College
Santa Maria, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- Welding
- CNC machining
- +14
American River College
Sacramento, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- Electrician
- Plumbing
- +16
Antelope Valley Community College District
Lancaster, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- Electrician
- HVAC technician
- +13
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ATA College
El Cajon, CA · Private
- Police academy & criminal justice
- HVAC technician
- Medical assistant
- +1
Bakersfield College
Bakersfield, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- HVAC technician
- Carpentry
- +13
Barstow Community College
Barstow, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- Welding
- Automotive technician
- +5
Cerro Coso Community College
Ridgecrest, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- Welding
- Medical assistant
- +4
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- Electrician
- HVAC technician
- +13
Citrus College
Glendora, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- Automotive technician
- Diesel & heavy equipment mechanic
- +5
City College of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- Electrician
- HVAC technician
- +23
Clovis Community College
Fresno, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- IT support & networking
- Industrial maintenance & mechatronics
- +1
Coastline Community College
Fountain Valley, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- IT support & networking
- Construction technology
- +1
College of Marin
Kentfield, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- CNC machining
- Automotive technician
- +2
College of San Mateo
San Mateo, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- Dental assistant
- Cosmetology
- +4
College of the Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- Welding
- Automotive technician
- +9
College of the Sequoias
Visalia, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- Electrician
- HVAC technician
- +14
College of the Siskiyous
Weed, CA · Public
- Police academy & criminal justice
- Welding
- Practical nursing (LPN/LVN)
- +2
Criminal justice programs by city
- Los Angeles (22 within 30 mi)
- San Diego (6 within 30 mi)
- San Jose (10 within 30 mi)
- Fresno (5 within 30 mi)
- Sacramento (5 within 30 mi)
- Long Beach (25 within 30 mi)
- Oakland (12 within 30 mi)
- Anaheim (24 within 30 mi)
- Stockton (3 within 30 mi)
- Riverside (12 within 30 mi)
- Santa Ana (23 within 30 mi)
- Santa Clarita (12 within 30 mi)
- Fremont (10 within 30 mi)
- San Bernardino (10 within 30 mi)
- Glendale (24 within 30 mi)
- Rancho Cucamonga (15 within 30 mi)
- Oceanside (3 within 30 mi)
- Roseville (6 within 30 mi)
- Palmdale (3 within 30 mi)
- Corona (20 within 30 mi)
- Salinas (4 within 30 mi)
- Pomona (26 within 30 mi)
- Visalia (5 within 30 mi)
- Torrance (24 within 30 mi)
- Simi Valley (9 within 30 mi)
- Concord (10 within 30 mi)
- Vallejo (8 within 30 mi)
- Fairfield (5 within 30 mi)
- Menifee (7 within 30 mi)
- Murrieta (7 within 30 mi)
- Ventura (3 within 30 mi)
- Downey (26 within 30 mi)
- West Covina (28 within 30 mi)
- San Mateo (12 within 30 mi)
- Hesperia (6 within 30 mi)
- Tracy (6 within 30 mi)
- Mission Viejo (10 within 30 mi)
- San Ramon (10 within 30 mi)
- Livermore (10 within 30 mi)
- Alhambra (27 within 30 mi)
- Turlock (3 within 30 mi)
- Camarillo (4 within 30 mi)
- Madera (4 within 30 mi)
- Brentwood (7 within 30 mi)
- Porterville (3 within 30 mi)
- Woodland (3 within 30 mi)
- Santa Cruz (9 within 30 mi)
- La Habra (28 within 30 mi)
- Hanford (4 within 30 mi)
- Gilroy (6 within 30 mi)
- San Rafael (8 within 30 mi)
- Beaumont (5 within 30 mi)
- Petaluma (5 within 30 mi)
- Cathedral City (3 within 30 mi)
- Glendora (24 within 30 mi)
- Pacifica (7 within 30 mi)
- Monterey (3 within 30 mi)
- Galt (4 within 30 mi)
- Reedley (7 within 30 mi)
- Riverbank (3 within 30 mi)
- Imperial Beach (4 within 30 mi)
What police officers earn in California
Median pay means half earn more and half earn less. Pay grows with experience, certifications and overtime.
Police officer salary in CaliforniaHow to become a police officer
- Median pay
- $118,880
- $57.15 an hour
- Typical range
- $76,300–$153,190
- 10th to 90th percentile
- Jobs in CA
- 65,940
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +3.5%
- 51,500 openings a year (U.S.)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, and Employment Projections.
Hear from the best fits near California
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Frequently asked questions
How many police academy & criminal justice schools are in California?
We list 109 schools in California with police academy & criminal justice programs: 100 public colleges and 9 private career schools. Campuses are in Los Angeles, Sacramento, El Cajon, Visalia, and Fresno.
Are there community college police academy & criminal justice programs in California?
Yes. 100 public colleges in California offer police academy & criminal justice. Public programs often cost less and are usually eligible for federal financial aid. Confirm costs and aid with each school.
How much does police academy & criminal justice school cost in California?
Among the 106 schools here that report it to the U.S. Department of Education, the average yearly net price (after grants and scholarships) ranges from $480 to $27,854. That figure covers the whole school, not just this program, so ask each school for the program's total cost.
How much do police officers make in California?
The median pay for police officers in California is $118,880 a year, and most earn between $76,300 and $153,190, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How do I choose a police academy & criminal justice school in California?
Ask each school about accreditation, total cost after financial aid, hands-on lab hours, certification exam prep, class sizes and job placement. Request info from two or three schools so you can compare their answers side by side.
Other programs in California
- Medical assistant schools (152)
- Cosmetology schools (119)
- Auto mechanic schools (83)
- Dental assistant schools (83)
- LPN programs (83)
- IT schools (83)
- Esthetician schools (76)
- HVAC schools (71)
- Welding schools (69)
- Barber schools (68)
- Pharmacy technician schools (66)
- Medical billing and coding schools (63)
- Industrial maintenance schools (60)
- Electrician schools (58)
- Fire science programs (57)
- Construction schools (56)