Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Nebraska
Ranked by graduate earnings
Wayne State College, University of Nebraska at Kearney and Peru State College are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Nebraska by graduate earnings. Wayne State College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,869, College Scorecard. University of Nebraska at Omaha, Central Community College and Wayne State College award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Nebraska: 270, 204 and 59 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 Nebraska colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 760 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Criminal Justice and Corrections program focuses on the various functions carried out by government agencies related to the punishment, treatment, and supervision of individuals convicted of crimes. This program is ideal for students…
Top 6 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne State College Wayne Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,869 | 59 | 52% | — | $25,000 |
| 2 | University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,128 | 33 | 58% | — | $19,250 |
| 3 | Peru State College Peru Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,953 | 20 | 38% | — | $27,367 |
| 4 | University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,756 | 270 | 47% | — | $22,561 |
| 5 | Chadron State College Chadron Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,454 | 23 | 50% | — | $20,250 |
| 6 | Midland University Fremont Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,149 | 15 | 42% | $23,162 | $27,000 |
Top 3 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Community College Norfolk Public · Associate degree | $33,064 | 26 | 56% | — | $9,000 |
| 2 | Metropolitan Community College Area Omaha Public · Associate degree | $28,511 | 24 | 29% | — | $13,462 |
| 3 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln Public · Associate degree Small program | $28,473 | 19 | 38% | — | $14,552 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Nebraska
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha Public | 270 | $38,756 |
| 2 | Central Community College Grand Island Public | 204 | Not reported |
| 3 | Wayne State College Wayne Public | 59 | $41,869 |
| 4 | University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney Public | 33 | $40,128 |
| 5 | Chadron State College Chadron Public | 23 | $32,454 |
| 6 | Peru State College Peru Public | 20 | $38,953 |
| 7 | Midland University Fremont Private not-for-profit | 15 | $41,149 |
| 8 | York University York Private not-for-profit | 10 | Not reported |
| 9 | Creighton University Omaha Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
| 10 | Concordia University - Nebraska Seward Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 6 Nebraska colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue University (Online) | Bellevue | Private not-for-profit | 39 |
| Northeast Community College | Norfolk | Public | 26 |
| Metropolitan Community College Area | Omaha | Public | 24 |
| Southeast Community College Area | Lincoln | Public | 19 |
| Western Nebraska Community College | Scottsbluff | Public | 5 |
| Nebraska Wesleyan University | Lincoln | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).
Top skills
What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Nebraska
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Nebraska.
Which Nebraska colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
University of Nebraska at Omaha (270 graduates a year), Central Community College (204 graduates a year) and Wayne State College (59 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Nebraska, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 Nebraska colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Nebraska?+
By graduate earnings, Wayne State College leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Nebraska, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,869, College Scorecard. University of Nebraska at Kearney and Peru State College follow. By degrees awarded, University of Nebraska at Omaha is the largest, with 270 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Nebraska has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Wayne State College tops the list at $41,869. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Nebraska?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Nebraska is $64,120 (median $63,380), across about 3,250 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Criminal Justice and Corrections program?+
The Criminal Justice and Corrections program focuses on the various functions carried out by government agencies related to the punishment, treatment, and supervision of individuals convicted of crimes. This program is ideal for students…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, speaking, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Correctional Officers and Jailers?+
The national job outlook is about -7.8% growth with around 30,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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