If you’re you’re interested in starting a challenging career where you can be a part of a team, have a stable career, and make a difference in the lives of your fellow community members — starting a career in criminal justice could be the right pathway for you!
Nebraska’s criminal justice professionals help keep communities safe, protect victims, and uphold the law.
Today’s criminal justice professionals also play a key role in educating the public about how the criminal justice system works and developing strategies for crime prevention.
The first step towards becoming a law enforcement officer or other criminal justice professional in Nebraska is to get the best criminal justice education.
The guide below includes details on some of the best criminal justice programs in Nebraska.
Use this guide as a resource to learn important information about available programs of study, and degree requirements, and find an estimate of potential costs of attendance.
Later, we talk about criminal justice salaries in Nebraska and briefly touch on a unique tuition funding option for eligible law enforcement officers and firefighters.
Best Criminal Justice Schools in Nebraska
The guide to the best criminal justice schools in Nebraska includes a selection of two and four-year colleges and universities.
These Nebraska-based schools offer entry-level and continuing education certificate and degree programs for criminal justice students.
It is important to note that each program has its own admissions procedures and requirements, please contact your program of interest to learn more about program specifics like application fees, deadlines, costs of attendance, financial aid, and criminal background checks.
1 University of Nebraska at Omaha
About the Program
The University of Nebraska’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers minor, bachelor’s, and master’s level programs for education and training.
Their criminal justice program is also supplemented with a variety of related professional and research programs that help students practice and hone their skills in immersive environments.
UN Students can take classes at one of their two campus locations in Omaha or Lincoln.
They offer flexible scheduling options that make it easier for working students can take courses online to complete general education, core requirements, followed by immersive experiential learning internships required to earn their criminal justice degree.
Courses Offered
- Survey of Criminal Justice
- Criminal Justice Organization and Administration
- Criminal Courts System
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure
- Survey of Corrections
- Applied Statistics and Data Processing
- Philosophy of Criminal Justice
- Police and Society
- Community-Based Corrections
- Writing for Criminal Justice
- Women, Crime, and Justice
- Criminal Justice Internship
Average Program Costs: $13,000.00
Contact Information
- Address: 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska
- Phone: 402-554-2610
- Website: Visit School Website
2 University of Nebraska at Kearney
About the Program
UNK has a comprehensive criminal justice program for students seeking a bachelor’s degree and those interested in becoming law enforcement officers.
Their on-campus and online programs educate students on the fundamental skills required to work as law enforcement officers working in local, state, and municipal offices.
Enrolled students can participate in the criminal justice club, and qualified students are eligible to become members of the campus-based honor society for networking and professional opportunities.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney works together with local agencies to provide immersive internships where students can gain on-the-job experience while completing mandatory coursework and program requirements.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Criminology
- Introduction to Sociology
- The Police Service
- Criminal Evidence, Procedure, and the Courts
- Correctional Services and Systems
- Orientation to Criminal Justice
- Juvenile Justice System
- Victims of Crime
- Women and Crime
- Special Topics
- Drugs and the Criminal Justice System
Average Program Costs: $17,000.00
Contact Information
- Address: 2504 9th Avenue, Kearney, Nebraska
- Phone: 308-865-8441
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Wayne State College
About the Program
Nebraska students interested in starting careers in law enforcement or corrections can take classes at Wayne State College.
Their program teaches students about the fundamentals of Nebraska’s criminal court and law enforcement systems and prepares them to enter a variety of criminal justice-related careers upon completion.
Wayne State Students can take criminal justice classes on campus or online as they complete major and minor degree requirements for earning a bachelor of science or arts.
This interdisciplinary program intersects with related coursework in psychology, pre-law, emergency management, and political science and participates in the free tuition program, which waives the cost of tuition for eligible Nebraska law enforcement officers.
Courses Offered
- Theoretical Criminology
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Homeland Security and the Nature of Terrorism
- Gangs, Violent Crime, and Victimology
- Role and Function of Policing in Society
- CSI Lab
- Field Trips
- Criminal Justice Internship
Average Program Costs: $14,000.00
*Free tuition waivers are available for qualified law enforcement officers.
Contact Information
- Address: 1111 Main Street, Wayne, Nebraska
- Phone: 800-228-9972
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Chadron State College
About the Program
Chadron State College’s College’s Justice Studies Program offers students several routes for earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
They offer pre-law education for aspiring law school students and legal studies programs that give students an introduction to the world of criminal courts, corrections, and policing.
Their comprehensive criminal justice program includes mandatory electives and core coursework that explains how the criminal courts work.
Students on a law enforcement track learn how police, law enforcement officers, corrections officers, and justice administrators work together to prevent crime and strategies for rehabilitating convicted criminals.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Forensic Studies
- Law Enforcement Organization and Administration
- Juvenile Crime and Gangs
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Criminology
- Criminal Law
- Introduction to Law Enforcement
- Introduction to Corrections
- Police and Community Relations
- Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation
Average Program Costs: $15,000.00
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 Main Street, Chadron, Nebraska
- Phone: 308-432-6000
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Peru State College
About the Program
Peru State College introduces students to the inner workings of the criminal justice system in Nebraska and the US as they work toward earning a bachelor’s degree in one of three disciplines available at this location.
Their students learn the fundamentals of using applied research methods in solving complex crimes and criminal cases.
They also train students to develop stronger problem-solving skills and improve critical thinking skills to help them obtain entry-level employment.
Students who graduate from Peru’s program are qualified to carry out the required duties of their chosen profession in Criminal Justice Administration, Legal Studies, or Justice Counseling.
Courses Offered
- Survey of Criminal Justice
- Introduction to Psychology
- Policing
- Cyber Security
- Introduction to Corrections
- Community-Based Corrections
- Criminalistics
- Legal Environment and Contract Law
- Victimology
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Organizational Communications
- Criminal Law
- Criminology
Average Program Costs:16,000.00
Contact Information
- Address: 600 Hoyt Street, Peru, Nebraska
- Phone: 402-872-03815
- Website: Visit School Website
6 York University
About the Program
York University offers a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice for students who want to become police officers, law enforcement officers, or court officials.
They also offer a pre-law degree program where students learn the fundamentals of law, crime, and justice ahead of attending law schools and becoming high-earning criminal justice professionals like lawyers and judges.
Students taking classes at York can also take electives to learn more about specialized areas of criminal justice.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Criminal Law
- Courts and Courtroom Procedure
- Special Issues in Criminal Justice
- Survey of Corrections
- Criminology
- Ethics and the Criminal Justice System
- Evidence
- Research and Writing in Criminal Justice
- Criminal Investigations
- Constitutional Law
Average Program Costs: $18,000.00
Contact Information
- Address: 1125 East 8th Street, York, Nebraska
- Phone: 402-363-5627
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Northeast Community College
About the Program
Northeast Community College offers an AAS degree program with a career-oriented focus.
Their two-year degree program readies entry-level criminal justice students to begin new careers in the field upon graduation.
It also builds on the skills of active police officers and corrections officers who want to earn degrees and continuing education certificates to enhance their practical knowledge skills.
Northeast offers several concentrations and specialized areas of study for students seeking specific coursework.
Students in this program can learn about criminal courts, criminal procedures, corrections, and functions of the juvenile justice system, along with taking a host of other criminal justice electives that may be eligible for transfer credit.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Introduction to Forensic Crime Scene Investigation
- Criminal Procedure
- Introduction to Correction
- Juvenile Justice
- Police and Society
- Security and Loss Prevention
- Sociology of Deviant Behavior
Average Program Costs: $8,898.00
Contact Information
- Address: 801 East Benjamin Avenue, Norfolk, Nebraska
- Phone: 402-371-2020
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Criminal Justice Salary Information
If you’re thinking about starting a criminal justice career in Nebraska, it is important to understand the annual earnings potential for your selected role before embarking on a new career.
The following are the reported annual salaries of selected Nebraska criminal justice professionals.
- Police Officer: $64,899.00
- Probation Officer: $47,994.00
- Sheriff: $43,295.00
- Corrections Officer: $45,415.00
- Crime Scene Technician: $54,546.00
- Victims Advocate: $45,383.00
- Lawyer: $96,212.00
- Paralegal: $37,585.00
As you can see, most of Nebraska’s criminal justice workers earn well-paying salaries that can include additional perks and benefits.
However, these numbers only represent the averages, there are quite a few CJ employees making above or below the state and national averages.
If you’re wondering how to increase your earnings there are several general factors that can affect how much Nebraska’s criminal justice pros earn.
- Your work location by city, county, and municipality can affect your salary.
- A variety of salary ranges can apply if you work for a local, government, or state agency.
- Your job title and duties are other factors that can influence your salary.
- Having more years of on-the-job experience and continuing your education are factors that can help increase your earnings potential.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$62K |
|
$77K |
|
$86K |
Average Salary in Nebraska
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Omaha | $78,424 |
| Lincoln | $77,731 |
| Bellevue | $78,424 |
| Grand Island | $76,653 |
| Kearney | $76,653 |
| Fremont | $77,179 |
| Hastings | $76,653 |
| North Platte | $75,211 |
| Norfolk | $71,262 |
| Campbell | $76,653 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | 60 | $66,000 | $31.73 | $103,170 | $42,390 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 160 | $98,000 | $47.11 | $146,390 | $55,490 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
What is the Nebraska Law Enforcement Education Act, and How Can It Help Me Pay for My Criminal Justice Program?
Many of the programs above offer tuition waivers for qualifying students under the Nebraska Law Enforcement Education Act.
The Nebraska Law Enforcement Education Act provides a tuition waiver for local students pursuing careers in law enforcement and other criminal justice-related careers.
Provisions of the act allow for up to 100% of tuition to be waived for qualifying Nebraska law enforcement officers and selected firefighters within the state.
Having a full tuition waiver makes it easier for qualifying families with students to continue their education by earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field at some of the best criminal justice schools in Nebraska.
Criminal Justice Schools by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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