A degree in criminal justice provides flexibility and a range of career opportunities.
Introductory courses also provide a foundation for dozens of technical and professional positions.
Often considered an interdisciplinary degree, it can be used as a springboard for public service, academic research, social policy, law, and even politics.
Wyoming criminal justice graduates often work in law firms, security, corporate environments, policing, and correctional institutions.
In Wyoming, there are six universities and colleges that offer criminal justice certificates and undergraduate degrees.
Many provide advanced and graduate degrees in criminal studies.
So, if you thrive on challenges and want to make a difference, an educational foundation in criminal justice is an excellent option.
1 University of Wyoming
About the School
University of Wyoming, founded in 1886, is a research institution serving roughly 8,700 undergraduate students.
Its main campus is located in Laramie, near the Bamforth National Wildlife Refuge.
It offers close to 100 areas of study, from anthropology to petroleum science.
The University of Wyoming offers several matriculation pathways.
The BA in Criminal Justice is a social science degree that studies in depth the causes and impacts of crime.
The Pre-Law Concentration of the BA in Criminal Justice focuses on preparation for a possible law degree.
One of the unique pathways within the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology is the Master of Public Health with a concentration in Criminal Justice.
Courses Offered
The four-year degree requires the completion of 60 credit hours.
Basic English, writing, communication, statistics, a foreign language, and natural science courses, totaling 30 credit hours, provide an academic foundation.
The degree then focuses on the theory of crime and crime prevention.
Areas of study include:
- Crime Causation & Prevention
- Forensic Anthropology
- Terrorism
- Correctional Theory and Practice
- Drugs and the CJ System
- Women and Crime
Students must complete an internship in a local law office or a cooperative education program.
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 East University Ave, Laramie, WY 82071
- Phone: (307) 766-1121
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Casper College
About the School
Casper College is a public college that sits on roughly 200 acres outside of Casper, Wyoming. Established in 1945, it is one of the region’s largest community colleges.
It serves approximately 2,500 students in undergraduate and technical studies.
Casper’s Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Criminal Justice focuses on career preparation and placement.
Courses Offered
The AAS pathway is taught through hybrid instruction.
Online studies account for 70% of classwork, while 30% is on-site or hands-on training.
Students will attend trials and experience policing one-on-one.
All courses are taught by professionals currently or previously employed in law enforcement.
Graduation requires completion of a 62-credit hour two-year program consisting of general instruction and criminal justice.
The program also requires core competencies:
- Criminal Procedure
- Firearms
- Law and Society
- Criminal Investigation and Procedure
- Introduction to Law and Legal Studies
Contact Information
- Address: 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601
- Phone: (307) 268-2100
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Northwest College
About the School
Northwest College is located in Powell, Wyoming.
A second campus is located in Cody, Wyoming.
The small north-central campus serves an estimated 900 students with professional certificates and Associate Degree programs.
Nursing, teaching, music, equestrian studies, sustainability, welding, medical assistant, and criminal justice are all part of the curricula.
Courses Offered
Northwest College offers an 18-month, 60-credit-hour Associate’s Degree (AA) in Conservation Law Enforcement.
This study pathway ensures a strong academic background in law enforcement and conservational methodology.
A comprehensive academic foundation is required.
The syllabus lists courses in English, math, quantitative reasoning, US and Wyoming Constitutional Law, and the human condition.
Core criminal justice competencies include:
- Criminal Justice
- Courtroom Procedure
- Fire Arms
- Intro to Geographic Systems
- Environmental Science
Courses on legal research, wildlife first aid, and range land management are also part of the syllabus.
Tuition assistance and grants are accepted.
Contact Information
- Address: 231 West 6th Street, Powell, Wyoming, 82435
- Phone: (800) 560-4692
- Website: Visit School Website
4 Eastern Wyoming College
About the School
The small town of Torrington, Wyoming, is home to Eastern Wyoming College, near the Nebraska state border.
The college also offers community education in five surrounding counties, including Platte and Crook.
Additionally, it has a satellite campus at Douglas, WY.
Eastern Wyoming College, founded in 1968, offers Certificate and Associate degree programs, including Criminal Justice education.
Satellite campuses also hold continuing education and professional development courses.
Courses Offered
Eastern Wyoming College offers two criminal justice options.
The fully online AA degree focuses on probation/parole, case management, and federal agency skills.
The on-site Criminal Justice Associate of Arts introduces students to enforcement and evidentiary theory in a 63-credit-hour, two-year program.
Basic courses in English, math, public speaking, leadership, and sociology complement specialized classes.
Introductory criminal justice courses include:
- US and Wyoming Constitutional Law
- Investigation and the Evidentiary Process
- Criminology
- Criminal Science
- Legal Writing and Research
Financial aid and payment plans are available.
Contact Information
- Address: 3200 West C Street, Torrington, WY 82240
- Phone: (307) 532-8200
- Website: Visit School Website
5 Central Wyoming College
About the School
Central Wyoming College, home to Wyoming’s only public television network (PBS), is in Riverton, Wyoming.
The college serves 1,000 students with online, on-campus, and outreach classes ranging from agricultural science to nursing.
The satellite centers are located in Jackson, Lander, Dubois, and on the Wind River Indian Reservation.
Courses Offered
A criminal justice program is an interdisciplinary program housed in the Behavioral Sciences Department and consists of a 61-credit hour Associate of Applied Science degree.
All coursework is reviewed and taught by legal experts with real-world experience.
Students must complete 39 hours of criminal justice work and 22 of foundational education.
Central Wyoming College also offers several Certificates in corrections, law enforcement, and school resources.
These 27-credit-hour programs focus on specialized skills.
AAS core competencies include:
- Criminal Procedure
- Homeland Security
- Politics and the Judicial Process
- Criminology
- Legal Research and Writing
Financial aid through FAFSA, as well as foundation, institutional, and private donor scholarships and activity grants, are available.
Contact Information
- Address: 2660 Peck Avenue, Riverton, WY 82501
- Phone: (307) 855-2000
- Website: Visit School Website
6 Western Wyoming Community College
About the School
Western Wyoming Community College offers Certificates, Associate degrees, and Bachelor’s degrees in roughly 70 subjects.
They serve an estimated 1,500 students at the Rock Springs, Wyoming, main campus.
Courses Offered
Western Wyoming Community College’s Criminal Justice is an Associate of Arts degree.
The 60 credit hours of classwork are intended to provide basic skills for contemporary use, general liberal arts knowledge, and an academic foundation for students who wish to pursue a more advanced program.
Criminal justice courses include:
- Criminal Law
- Victimology
- Juvenile Law
- Criminal Investigation
- Legal Writing
Financial aid through FAFSA, grants, and college scholarships are available.
Contact Information
- Address: 2500 College Drive, Rock Springs, WY 82901
- Phone: (307) 382-1600
- Website: Visit School Website
7 Liberty University
About the School
As a non-profit Christian university, Liberty focuses on usable skills and knowledge.
Liberty University provides Associate, Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral level education, both online and on its main campus in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Roughly 50,000 students are enrolled.
Courses Offered
AA in Criminal Justice focuses on foundational skills and is available entirely online.
The Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice is a 60-credit-hour, two-year program.
It is taught in 8-week course intervals by internationally recognized instructors.
Some Students have accelerated graduation to 1.5 years.
Core law competencies for both programs include:
- American Criminal Justice
- Judicial Process
- Court Procedure and Practical Skills
- Legal Research and Writing
- Principles of Criminal Law
All electronic textbooks are provided for all undergraduate courses at no cost.
Over 80% of applicants qualify for tuition assistance and grants.
Liberty University also recognizes corporate tuition programs and GI Bill education benefits.
Other financial aid and payment options are also available.
Contact Information
- Address: 1971 University Blvd., Lynchburg, Virginia 24515
- Phone: (866) 855-9894
- Website: Visit School Website
8 Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)
About the School
Considered one of the top-rated online Criminal Justice degrees in the country, Southern New Hampshire University was founded in 1932.
Its main campus is in New Hampshire.
And it serves a combined student body, online and on-campus, of roughly 173,000.
Courses Offered
The Associate in Criminal Justice is a 60-hour program.
The Bachelor’s in Criminal Science is a four-year, 120-credit-hour program that allows students to specialize in cybercrime, corrections, counterterrorism, and advocacy.
The Master’s degree programs offer advanced studies in counterterrorism and public safety.
These programs are available in text-only, self-directed, or live lecture programs.
Experts with real-world experience teach all coursework.
Introductory paralegal courses include:
- Cultural Awareness in Criminal Justice
- Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
- Cyber Crime Principles
- Cyber Crime Organizations
- Crime enforcement technology
Financial aid and payment plans are available.
Contact Information
- Address: 2500 North River Road, Manchester, NH 03106
- Phone: (800) 915-7648
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
Criminal Justice Salary Information
Individuals with a criminal justice background have the education to work as private detectives, paralegals, probation and police officers, and prison officials.
Many graduates work in non-profit administration or government.
Wyoming criminal justice majors currently hold positions in Federal law enforcement, such as the U.S. Marshall’s Office and State enforcement.
In Wyoming, the demand for individuals with a criminal justice background is growing.
Conservative estimates forecast a gain of 17% for enforcement and technical positions, such as forensic technician, through 2029.
This projected growth rate is substantially higher than the national average of 5%.
Criminal Justice graduates enjoy a starting salary of $39,000 with an average salary of $61,319 annually.
If highly trained with a professional niche, individuals can expect to earn over $110,000 annually.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$52K |
|
$70K |
|
$77K |
Average Salary in Wyoming
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Cheyenne | $70,096 |
| Casper | $71,481 |
| Laramie | $69,987 |
| Gillette | $68,138 |
| Rock Springs | $71,285 |
| Sheridan | $72,198 |
| Green River | $71,285 |
| Evanston | $71,285 |
| Riverton | $70,338 |
| Cody | $72,198 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casper, WY | 30 | $88,910 | $42.75 | $143,620 | $64,630 |
| Cheyenne, WY | 50 | $97,150 | $46.71 | $147,740 | $57,980 |
* 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
I’ve heard fantastic things about the criminal justice program at the University of Wyoming. Their focus on hands-on learning and internships really sets students up for success.