Criminal Justice Schools and Degree Programs in Wyoming

Updated October 14, 2026

Wyoming has eight public colleges offering programs in the criminal justice family, from certificates at community colleges to a bachelor’s at the University of Wyoming, per 2025 federal education data. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers earn a median $66,140 a year in Wyoming, per May 2025 BLS data, while detectives earn $81,880. Many Wyoming patrol positions don’t require a four-year degree, though requirements vary by agency.

Wyoming’s small population means fewer departments to choose from. Whether you’re looking at a sheriff’s office in Laramie County or a state trooper post patrolling I-80, here’s what the degree actually opens up and where you can get one without leaving the state.

Public Safety in Wyoming

In 2024, Wyoming’s violent crime rate was 203.4 offenses per 100,000 residents, well below the national average, according to FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), a division of the Attorney General’s Office, provides investigative, forensic, and intelligence support to local agencies statewide, handling organized crime and drug cases that cross jurisdictional lines and operating the State Crime Laboratory. Day-to-day policing falls to municipal police, county sheriffs, and the Wyoming Highway Patrol across the state’s 23 counties.

Criminal Justice Degree Options in Wyoming

A criminal justice degree opens doors across law enforcement, corrections, and the courts. After you learn more about what’s available, our featured schools can help you get started.

Featured Programs:

Where to Study Criminal Justice in Wyoming

Eight public institutions in Wyoming offer a program in the criminal justice family at some credential level, per U.S. Department of Education data. That family includes criminal justice itself along with related fields like legal support services, fire protection, and homeland security, so not every listed school offers a criminal justice degree specifically. All eight are in-state campuses; none are distance-only.

Institution	City	Program Area	Credential Levels
University of Wyoming	Laramie	Criminal Justice	Bachelor’s
Laramie County Community College	Cheyenne	Criminal Justice, Legal Support Services, Fire Protection, Homeland Security	Associate, Certificate
Casper College	Casper	Criminal Justice, Legal Support Services, Fire Protection	Associate, Certificate
Central Wyoming College	Riverton	Criminal Justice, Fire Protection	Associate, Certificate
Eastern Wyoming College	Torrington	Criminal Justice	Associate, Certificate
Northern Wyoming Community College District	Sheridan	Criminal Justice	Associate, Certificate
Northwest College	Powell	Criminal Justice	Associate, Certificate
Western Wyoming Community College	Rock Springs	Criminal Justice, Homeland Security	Associate, Certificate

This is federal education data, not each school’s current catalog. Program names and formats change, so confirm enrollment, format, and admission requirements directly with the school before you apply.

School and program data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, institution file May 2025 and field-of-study file April 2025. Data accessed October 2026.

Wyoming Criminal Justice Salaries and Job Outlook

Pay depends heavily on which part of the system you work in. Here’s what Wyoming pays, by role, as of May 2025 BLS wage data:

Occupation	Median Annual Wage (WY)	Projected Employment Change (2024-34)
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers	$66,140	+3.4%
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$81,880	+2.2%
Correctional Officers and Jailers	$54,780	-7.7%
Bailiffs	$38,360	0%
Security Guards	$39,200	+12%

If you’re drawn to patrol work, Wyoming’s police and sheriff’s patrol officers earn a median $66,140 a year, according to May 2025 BLS wage data, with employment projected to grow 3.4% through 2034, per ProjectionsCentral. Expect irregular shifts, long stretches in a patrol vehicle, and contact with the public at both their best and worst moments.

Move into investigations and the pay climbs: detectives and criminal investigators earn a median $81,880 in Wyoming, per the same May 2025 BLS data, with employment projected to grow 2.2% through 2034. Many municipal departments want patrol experience first, though this BLS category covers a wide range of investigative roles and paths vary by department and agency type.

Corrections pays less. Correctional officers and jailers earn a median $54,780 in Wyoming, per May 2025 BLS data, in an occupation where Wyoming employment is projected to decline 7.7% by 2034, per ProjectionsCentral. Bailiffs, who handle courtroom security rather than custody work, earn a median $38,360, with employment projected essentially flat over the same period.

Security work is the lowest-paid entry point covered here: Wyoming security guards earn a median $39,200, per May 2025 BLS data, in an occupation projected to grow 12% by 2034, per ProjectionsCentral, the fastest projected growth rate among the five occupations on this page. Licensing and training requirements for security positions vary by employer and by the type of work, so confirm specifics with any employer you’re considering.

May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for police officers and detectives, correctional officers and bailiffs, and security guards. Long-term (2024-34) job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, ProjectionsCentral. Figures reflect state-level data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Wyoming police departments require a college degree?

Degree requirements vary by agency. Many Wyoming patrol positions don’t require a four-year degree, but hiring, training, and certification are three separate steps. An agency hires you, you then complete a basic training course approved by the Wyoming Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy in Douglas, and POST issues your certification once you finish. Individual agencies can add their own education, testing, background, and medical requirements on top of the state minimum.

How many colleges in Wyoming offer criminal-justice-related programs?

Eight public institutions in Wyoming offer a program in the criminal justice family, which includes criminal justice itself along with related fields like legal support services, fire protection, and homeland security, per U.S. Department of Education data. Credential levels range from certificates at community colleges to a bachelor’s at the University of Wyoming. Confirm which specific programs a school currently offers directly with that school.

What’s the highest-paying criminal justice career in Wyoming?

Among the roles covered here, detectives and criminal investigators have the highest median pay in Wyoming at $81,880 a year, per May 2025 BLS wage data, though the path into investigative work varies by department.

Is criminal justice a growing field in Wyoming?

It depends on the role. Security guard positions are projected to grow 12% through 2034 and police and sheriff’s patrol officer positions 3.4%, per ProjectionsCentral’s 2024-34 projections, while correctional officer and jailer positions are projected to decline 7.7% over the same period.

Key Takeaways

Degree requirements vary by agency – many Wyoming patrol positions don’t require a four-year degree, but hiring, POST-approved academy training, and POST certification are three separate steps, and individual agencies can add their own requirements.
Eight in-state schools, all public – offering programs across the criminal justice family, including legal support, fire protection, and homeland security, from community-college certificates to a bachelor’s at the University of Wyoming, per federal education data.
Pay ranges widely by role – from $38,360 for bailiffs to $81,880 for detectives, per May 2025 BLS wage data.
Security guard positions have the fastest projected growth among the roles covered here – 12% through 2034, per ProjectionsCentral, though it’s also the lowest-paid of the five.

If cost is what’s holding you back, our scholarships guide lists awards built for criminal justice majors, with eligibility, amounts, and deadlines.

Read: Scholarships for Criminal Justice Majors and Grad Students