Students who earn a degree in criminal justice from one of the best criminal justice programs in Nevada can start their criminal justice career or advance their career opportunities.
There is a growing need for qualified criminal justice professionals in Nevada, which means that there are many career opportunities available for criminal justice program graduates.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that there is an expected job growth in several areas of criminal justice, including police officers, detectives, criminal justice instructors, and other criminal justice specialists.
Earn your degree at one of these best Nevada criminal justice schools and enjoy a rewarding criminal justice career.
1 University of Nevada, Reno
About the School
The University of Nevada, Reno offers three areas of emphasis for students who enroll in the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program.
The focus of the criminal justice programs is on an interdisciplinary approach to criminal justice studies, drawing theories and other information from several fields.
Courses Offered
Students complete core criminal justice studies during their first two years.
They choose one of the three specializations during their third year and complete additional courses relating to that specialization.
The three specializations are the Justice Studies Specialization, the Law and Justice Specialization, and the Accelerated B.A./M.A. specialization.
Courses in the program include Introduction to Administration of Justice, Police in America, Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System, and Criminal Law and Procedure.
Elective courses include Gangs, Victimology, and Women and the Criminal Justice System.
One sample course in Justice Studies is Struggle for Justice.
One course in the Law and Justice Specialization is Topics in Law and Justice.
The Accelerated B.A./M.A. program allows students to earn both a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice degree in five years.
Students may take up to 12 graduate credits while pursuing their Bachelor of Arts.
Contact Information
- Address: 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557
- Phone: 775-784-1110
- Website: Visit School Website
2 College of Southern Nevada
About the School
The College of Southern Nevada has four main campuses.
The school offers hundreds of degrees and certificates.
One program is the Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program.
Courses Offered
The Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program at the College of Southern Nevada provides students with the knowledge and skills to become entry-level criminal justice practitioners.
Students learn the components of the criminal justice system.
They learn how to analyze the overall crime problem in the U.S.
Some courses include Introduction to Administration of Justice, Survey of Criminal Law, Criminal Evidence, and Capstone in Criminal Justice.
The school offers other criminal justice programs, including the Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice.
Students complete 60 credit hours of study.
Program courses focus on an overview of the criminal justice system, law enforcement ethics, and criminology.
The Associate of Applied Science Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement Training Academy program prepares students to become Nevada peace officers.
Students engage in interactive scenarios, and they must pass several tests.
The tests include an oral exam, a written exam, a polygraph examination, and a physical agility test.
The 30-credit Certificate of Achievement in Criminal Justice program provides students with basic knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the legal and professional aspects of criminal justice.
Many students continue their studies to earn a criminal justice degree.
Contact Information
- Address: 6375 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89146
- Phone: 702-651-5000
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Nevada State University
About the School
Nevada State University invites criminal justice professionals to finish their degree by earning their Bachelor of Applied Science degree at the school.
The program is designed for students who have already earned their Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice degree.
Courses Offered
Students in the Bachelor of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program learn the basic functions and structures of the U.S. criminal justice system.
They gain an understanding of crime and criminal behavior.
Students gain an understanding of research methods in criminal justice and how to apply them.
Courses in the program include Dilemmas in Law and Law Enforcement, Law and Society, Legal Issues for Command-Level Officers, and Research Methods in Criminal Justice.
Contact Information
- Address: 1300 Nevada State Drive, Henderson, NV 89002
- Phone: 702-992-2000
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Northwest Career College
About the School
Northwest Career College offers students the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning experiences and the opportunity to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice degree.
The college supplies every student with a laptop to use for their studies.
Courses Offered
The courses in the criminal justice program at Northwest Career College provide students with knowledge about the American justice system.
Students also learn about correctional systems, criminal investigation, and crime prevention.
Some courses include Criminal Law and Procedure, Legal Research and Writing, Criminal Investigation, Probation and Parole, and Introduction to Homeland Security.
Students also complete the courses Introduction to Policing, Criminal Justice Ethics, and Field Investigations.
Contact Information
- Address: 7398 Smoke Ranch Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89128
- Phone: 702-389-7269
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Western Nevada College
About the School
Western Nevada College began educating students in 1971.
The college held classes at several community locations and continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of the area.
One program offered is an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice.
Courses Offered
The courses offered in the 60-credit hour Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program at Western Nevada College provide students with hands-on activities.
Students explore areas such as corrections, parole and probation, policing, investigations, prosecution and the courts, and juvenile justice.
Some courses in the program include Principles of Investigation, Juvenile Justice, Criminal Law and Procedure, and Introduction to Criminology.
Contact Information
- Address: 2201 West College Parkway, Carson City, NV 89703
- Phone: 775-445-3000
- Website: Visit School Website
6 University of Nevada, Las Vegas
About the School
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program has two available track options.
Students choose between the thesis track and the comprehensive examination track.
Courses Offered
Courses offered in the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas gain advanced criminal justice knowledge and skills.
They demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the legal system and laws.
Students gain advanced research and program evaluation skills.
They gain advanced knowledge and understanding of criminal justice and theory and practice.
Some courses include Proseminar in Criminal Justice, Proseminar on Law and Social Control, Proseminar on Research Methods, and Criminal Justice Policy.
Students enrolled in the thesis track complete a Master’s Thesis in Criminal Justice.
Students who enroll in the comprehensive examination track complete the Comprehensive Examination.
Contact Information
- Address: 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89154
- Phone: 702-895-3291
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Truckee Meadows Community College
About the School
Truckee Meadows Community College offers both an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program and an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice Program.
The Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program prepares students to work in entry-level criminal justice positions.
The Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice program prepares students for transfer to a four-year school for bachelor’s degree studies.
Courses Offered
Students who enroll in the criminal justice programs at Truckee Meadows Community College have the option of attending on-campus classes or completing the program in a 100 percent online format.
Students in the associate of arts program complete additional humanities courses and foreign language courses.
The associate of applied science program students complete courses that prepare them to enter the field immediately after graduation.
Courses include Police in America: An Introduction, Criminal Law and Procedure, Legal Research and Methods, and Probation and Parole.
Contact Information
- Address: 7000 Dandini Blvd., Reno, NV 89512
- Phone: 775-673-7111
- Website: Visit School Website
8 University of Nevada, Las Vegas - PhD
About the School
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is one of the few area schools to offer a doctoral program in criminal justice.
The Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice program prepares students to work in professional teaching or research positions at universities, research institutes, or at criminal justice agencies.
Courses Offered
Students who enroll in the Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice program complete traditional coursework, a research practicum, and a teaching practicum.
The research-oriented, interdisciplinary approach provides students with an advanced understanding of the nature and causes of crime, the reactions of society to crime and crime control efforts, and the consequences of crime and crime control.
Program courses include Social Science in Law, Proseminar on Theory, Punishment and Corrections, and Qualitative Research Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Contact Information
- Address: 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154
- Phone: 702-895-3011
- Website: Visit School Website
9 Great Basin College
About the School
Great Basin College offers classes at its main campus location and at several locations throughout the area.
The school also offers online courses.
One program offered is the Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program.
Courses Offered
Students learn the history and the nature of the components of criminal justice, the process of conducting an investigation, and how to evaluate current crime prevention and rehabilitation issues in the Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice program.
Great Basin College students who enroll in the program complete 60 credits of study.
Program courses include Criminal Law, Introduction to Evidence, Juvenile Justice, and Police in America.
Contact Information
- Address: 1500 College Parkway, Elko, NV 89801
- Phone: 775-327-5002
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Criminal Justice Salary Information
There is an expected job growth for criminal justice professionals in several areas of law enforcement, corrections, and other areas of criminal justice.
The salary that a criminal justice specialist earns depends on factors such as the type of setting and the experience of the criminal justice professional.
The location where a person works also affects the salary of criminal justice specialists.
The median salary for a criminal justice specialist in Nevada is $50, 879.
A criminal justice specialist who works in Carson City has a median salary of $50,738, compared to a criminal justice specialist who works in Las Vegas, who has a median salary of $51,166.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$57K |
|
$77K |
|
$85K |
Average Salary in Nevada
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $77,496 |
| Reno | $76,955 |
| Henderson | $77,192 |
| North Las Vegas | $77,496 |
| Sparks | $76,955 |
| Carson City | $76,848 |
| Elko | $65,031 |
| Boulder City | $76,429 |
| Mesquite | $76,353 |
| Fallon | $75,758 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | 410 | $98,680 | $47.44 | $146,410 | $66,010 |
| Reno, NV | 80 | $99,330 | $47.75 | $147,740 | $61,560 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
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
This list is so helpful! I’ve been looking into criminal justice programs in Nevada, and it’s nice to see which schools are ranked the best. I’m especially interested in finding a program with strong internship opportunities.
I’m enrolled in one of the schools on this list, and it’s been a great experience so far! The professors are knowledgeable, and the program has solid connections with local law enforcement, which makes a big difference for job prospects.