Location: Las Vegas, NV
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$48,388
Est. from national median (165 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$9,500
Est. from national median (26 programs)

Analysis

A $9,500 debt load for a certificate program sounds manageable—until you look at what comparable Criminal Justice programs actually deliver in Nevada. Similar programs in the state produce median first-year earnings of just $26,700, dramatically below the national figure of $48,400 that serves as our estimate here. The two other Las Vegas schools with reported data show graduates earning $23,000 to $30,000, suggesting University of Phoenix's actual outcomes could fall well short of the national benchmark we're using.

That earnings gap matters enormously for repayment. If this program's graduates end up closer to the Nevada median, the debt-to-earnings ratio jumps from a comfortable 0.20 to a concerning 0.36—meaning students would be carrying debt equal to more than a third of their first year's income. Even at the optimistic national estimate, this certificate leads to earnings below what many entry-level positions pay, and criminal justice jobs in Nevada appear particularly challenging compared to other states.

For parents considering this investment, the key question is whether a certificate adds enough value over simply applying directly to law enforcement or corrections positions, many of which hire without requiring credentials. Given the weak state-level earnings data and the fact that we're working from estimates rather than this school's actual track record, this program carries substantial risk for a modest potential return.

Where University of Phoenix-Nevada Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections certificate's programs nationally

University of Phoenix-Nevada (estimated ±10%)Other criminal justice and corrections programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Nevada

Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate's programs at peer institutions in Nevada (6 total in state)

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SchoolEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
University of Phoenix-NevadaLas Vegas$48,388*—$9,500*—
Carrington College-Las VegasLas Vegas$30,388*—$8,481*0.28
United Education Institute-Las VegasLas Vegas$23,026*$27,886$9,500*0.41
National Median$48,388*—$13,355*0.28
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Phoenix-Nevada, approximately 17% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 165 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.