Wayne State College’s Criminal Justice degree program earned recognition from College Factual in its 2025 rankings of the best Criminal Justice Studies programs in Nebraska.
Wayne State College has been recognized as one of Nebraska’s top colleges for Criminal Justice, ranking No. 3 in the state in College Factual’s 2025 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools rankings.
Wayne State’s Criminal Justice degree prepares students for a wide range of careers within the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole, criminal investigations, forensics, court and social services, homeland security, and private and corporate security. Students can pursue a B.A. or B.S. on campus, while a fully online B.S. option allows students to complete the degree without campus visits. The online program is designed to provide flexibility for students beginning a criminal justice career as well as working professionals seeking advancement.
Throughout the program, students examine the institutions and processes that shape the criminal justice system while developing skills in critical thinking, communication, technical writing, and ethical decision-making. Coursework explores subjects such as criminal law and procedure, policing, juvenile delinquency, correctional institutions, probation and parole, criminology, and the causes and prevention of crime.
Students can further tailor their studies through courses in areas such as criminal investigation, forensic crime scene investigation, homeland security, cybercrime, gangs and organized crime, emergency management, and violent crime and victimology. The program also pairs well with fields such as emergency management, human services, pre-law, psychology, public administration, sociology, and Spanish.
Applied experiences help students connect what they learn in the classroom with careers in the field. On-campus students can gain hands-on experience in Wayne State’s Crime Scene Investigation Facility, practicing techniques related to collecting, documenting, and processing evidence. Students can also build professional experience through internships with police and sheriff’s departments, correctional agencies, county attorneys, juvenile detention programs, and other criminal justice organizations.
Graduates have gone on to work as police officers, deputy sheriffs, state troopers, probation and correctional officers, investigators, court and legal professionals, and in other criminal justice-related roles throughout Nebraska and beyond.