Wyoming Criminal Justice Schools

There are several criminal justice degree programs in Wyoming to choose from, with options at the associate's and bachelor's degree levels. Wyoming's colleges and universities offer opportunities to specialize in areas like homeland security, forensic science, and law enforcement. Schools such as Central Wyoming College and Eastern Wyoming College also offer criminal justice degrees online. Read on to learn more about your options for studying criminal justice in Wyoming.

Quick Facts

*For not-for-profit colleges and universities with criminal justice degree programs.

Criminal Justice Degree Programs in Wyoming

State and local agencies in Wyoming encourage applicants to take courses or training related to law enforcement subjects after high school. Many entry-level applicants for police jobs have completed some formal postsecondary education, and a significant number are college graduates. A growing number of criminal justice jobs in Wyoming require applicants to hold a degree. For example, prospective Wyoming highway patrol troopers must have at least an associate's degree. A criminal justice degree will prepare you for job opportunities for whatever path you decide to pursue. Having your degree can also lead to higher salaries and increased chances for promotion.

Top-Ranked Schools with Criminal Justice Programs in Wyoming

College Factual's Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges

• University of Wyoming (#81)

Profiles of Well-Known Schools in Wyoming

University of Wyoming: The Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Wyoming offers a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a Pre-Law or a Pre-Forensic Science concentration. Students of this program complete internships with numerous federal agencies such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) or the US Marshal's Office. The department has ten full-time faculty with many recognized as forensic science specialists while others are experts in law and policy. The William D. Griffith Scholarship and the John R. Shell Scholarship are financial aid awards available to outstanding criminal justice majors.

Casper College: The Department of Criminal Justice at Casper College offers an Associate of Arts/ Science in Criminal Justice (Corrections or Police options), an Associate of Science in Forensic Science, and an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice. All six-degree options require 64 hours of coursework with at least 32 hours dedicated to major courses. The Associate of Science in Forensic Science is laboratory intensive while the other degree options focus more on the social and political dynamics of law and punishment. Students often intern with the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy, the Casper Police Department, or the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Notable Alumni from Wyoming Universities

• Cheyenne, WY Chief of Police Brian Kozak - University of Phoenix
• Gillette, WY Chief of Police Jim Hloucal - University of Wyoming
• Laramie, WY Chief of Police Dale A. Stalder - University of Wyoming
• Laramie County, WY Sheriff Danny L. Glick - Laramie County Community College

Police Quote: "The job is simply too important and complex to be left to those without an advanced education. Policing is too important in a democracy such as ours to be left to those who have not had the benefit of a broad liberal arts education."

 Chief David Couper, author of Arrested Development

Wyoming Criminal Justice Careers

Major criminal justice employers in Wyoming include the Cheyenne Police Department, the Casper Police Department, and the Wyoming Highway Patrol. The Wyoming Department of Corrections also hires for positions in correctional security, casework specialists, probation and parole agents, recreation therapists, and administration specialists. The state offers generous benefits including 9 paid holidays, 12 days of paid vacation.

A growing need for paralegals or legal assistants in Wyoming is expected as law firms look to cut costs by hiring paralegals to do work once performed by lawyers. This will open up opportunities for individuals with paralegal degrees at law firms in urban areas of Wyoming.

Criminal justice careers can provide attractive pay and benefits in addition to the intrinsic benefits. The average salary for a Wyoming police officer is $53,590 and a first-line supervisor of police officers earns an average of $72,690 in the state.^6,8 For correctional officers the average salary is $41,800, while detectives earn an average of $74,230 in addition to competitive benefits.^5,7 Paralegals and legal assistants in the state earn an average of $46,660.⁹

Wyoming Criminal Justice Salary and Jobs

Occupation	Number Employed	Average Annual Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers	1,010	$41,800
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	310	$72,690
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	190	$74,230
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	1,070	$53,590

Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2015.^5,6,7,8

Wyoming's Criminal Justice Employment Outlook

The May 2016 unemployment rate for Wyoming was 5.6%, which was above the national average of 4.7%, though below the state's 10-year peak unemployment rate of 7.7% from December 2009.¹⁰ The lowest unemployment rate the state has seen in the past 10 years occurred in February 2008 with a rate of 2.6%.¹⁰ Government employment is a good indicator of criminal justice jobs in Wyoming. According to Projections Central, the following criminal justice jobs are estimated for Wyoming through 2024:

• Police and Sheriff Patrol: 40 annual openings; 46% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 24% holding an associate's degree.^11,12
• Correctional Officers: 30 annual openings; 37% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 15% holding a post-secondary certificate.^11,13
• Detectives and Criminal Investigators: 10 annual openings; 37% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 21% holding an associate's degree.^11,14
• Security Guards: 20 annual openings; 4% in these positions report completing at least some college.^11,15
• Paralegals and Legal Assistants: 10 annual openings; 86% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 30% holding an associate's degree and 44% holding a bachelor's degree.^11,16

Note that open position estimates are based on expectations for replacements as well as jobs growth.

The Mercatus Center is a conservative think tank that analyzed and ranked
the long-term solvency of each state government. After looking at budgeting processes, cash/tax collection, and pensions, Wyoming was ranked 3rd in the nation.¹⁷ This shows sound employment practices, and new hires can be fairly confident in the state's ability to fulfill employee pension obligations.

Directory of Not-for-Profit Wyoming Universities Offering Campus-based and Online Criminal Justice Degrees

For students interested in earning a Wyoming associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree in criminal justice, we recommend an accredited campus-based or online program.

Tip: If you don't live near a campus-based school that offers a program of interest, consider an online degree or a university in an adjacent state (Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, or Utah).

Schools with Online and On-Campus Criminal Justice Programs

Central Wyoming College (Riverton)
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Associate of Arts | Homeland Security
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice

Eastern Wyoming College (Torrington)
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)
Associate of Arts | Law Enforcement
Associate of Arts | Corrections
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Corrections

Schools with On-Campus Criminal Justice Programs Only

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the "Data, Student Reviews and Other Information" section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

Casper College (Casper)
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Forensic Science
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice

Laramie County Community College (Cheyenne)
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice: Corrections/Pre-Law
Associate of Applied Science | Cybersecurity
Associate of Science | Homeland Security
Certificate | Cybersecurity Fundamentals
Certificate | Cybersecurity Professional
Certificate | Homeland Security

Northwest College (Powell)
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice

Sheridan College (Sheridan)
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Corrections
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Security
Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice: Victim Advocacy
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Certificate | Criminal Justice: Crime Scene Investigation
Certificate | Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement
Certificate | Criminal Justice: Security
Certificate | Criminal Justice: Victim Advocacy

University of Wyoming (Laramie)
Associate of Science | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice: Pre-Law
Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice: Pre-Forensic Science
Master of Public Administration | Criminal Justice
Minor | Criminal Justice

Student Review: "I very much enjoyed my time in the Criminal Justice department at the University of Wyoming. The faculty was great, especially my faculty adviser. He was also great as the instructor for my capstone course which was a senior level independent study where I chose a topic and researched it for the semester. I chose to write about steroids and substance abuse. I enjoyed the variety of classes taught such as those specializing in drug and gang enforcement. I have also took an exceptional Native American Law class. I would highly recommend the Department because of the friendly faculty and wide range of courses offered."

Jonathon G., student at University of Wyoming

Student Review: "The University of Wyoming's Criminal Justice program was informative and challenging. The first class I took in the Criminal Justice department was an elective about Psychopaths. After attending that class, which was taught in a vibrant and challenging way that flipped the script on tradition mental health illness, I was hooked and decided to double major in Psychology and Criminal Justice. The completed the degree mostly online, with a few in-person classes. The professors were knowledgeable and great advocates for challenging the standard line in the Criminal Justice field. We discussed the ethics and politics along with the realities of the criminal justice system. I took away a strong desire to be an advocate for change in the system. All of my professors were very available, either online through email or holding regular office hours on-campus. The subject matter was applicable and engaging, even some of the more technical classes involving intense review and breakdown of laws and court cases were fascinating."

Student at University of Wyoming

Western Wyoming Community College (Rock Springs)
Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement
Certificate | Emergency Management

---

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-public-colleges/index.php
3. College Factual Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges: https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/rankings/top-ranked/
4. US News Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/criminal-justice/rankings
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Correctional Officers and Jailers https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333012.htm
6. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes331012.htm
7. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Detectives and Criminal Investigators: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333021.htm
8. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333051.htm
9. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011.htm
10. Y Charts 10 Year Unemployment Chart: https://https://ycharts.com/indicators/wyoming_unemployment_rate
11. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: https://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
12. O*Net OnLine, Police Patrol Officers: https://www.onetonline.org/link/details/33-3051.01
13. O*Net OnLine, Correctional Officers and Jailers: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-3012.00
14. O*Net OnLine, Police Detectives: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-3021.01
15. O*Net OnLine, Security Guards: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-9032.00
16. O*Net OnLine, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/23-2011.00
17. Mercatus Center, George Mason University, Ranking the States by Fiscal Condition 2016 Edition: https://www.mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings