Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in New Mexico
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico University and New Mexico State University are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in New Mexico by graduate earnings. University of New Mexico leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,370, College Scorecard. New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico and New Mexico Junior College award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in New Mexico: 156, 93 and 46 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 New Mexico colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 523 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 5 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 | University of New Mexico Albuquerque Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,370 | 93 | 55% | — | $16,500 |
| 2 | Eastern New Mexico University Portales Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,599 | 21 | 45% | — | $17,912 |
| 3 | New Mexico State University Las Cruces Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,553 | 156 | 55% | — | $20,642 |
| 4 | Western New Mexico University Silver City Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,386 | 18 | 32% | — | $20,379 |
| 5 | New Mexico Highlands University Las Vegas Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $21,630 | 9 | 26% | — | — |
Top 4 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 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque Public · Associate degree | $35,865 | 66 | 31% | — | — |
| 2 | San Juan College Farmington Public · Certificate Small program | $49,243 | 17 | 37% | — | $8,768 |
| 3 | New Mexico State University - Dona Ana Las Cruces Public · Associate degree | $27,638 | 47 | 19% | — | $7,425 |
| 4 | Southeast New Mexico College Carlsbad Public · Associate degree Small program | $27,638 | 3 | 20% | — | $7,425 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in New Mexico
Top 7 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 | New Mexico State University Las Cruces Public | 156 | $29,553 |
| 2 | University of New Mexico Albuquerque Public | 93 | $38,370 |
| 3 | New Mexico Junior College Hobbs Public | 46 | Not reported |
| 4 | Eastern New Mexico University Portales Public | 21 | $31,599 |
| 5 | Western New Mexico University Silver City Public | 18 | $32,386 |
| 6 | Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus Roswell Public | 6 | Not reported |
| 7 | Clovis Community College Clovis Public | 3 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 14 New Mexico colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central New Mexico Community College | Albuquerque | Public | 66 |
| New Mexico State University - Dona Ana | Las Cruces | Public | 47 |
| San Juan College | Farmington | Public | 17 |
| New Mexico Highlands University | Las Vegas | Public | 9 |
| University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus | Gallup | Public | 7 |
| New Mexico State University - Alamogordo | Alamogordo | Public | 7 |
| University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus | Los Lunas | Public | 5 |
| Santa Fe Community College | Santa Fe | Public | 5 |
| Luna Community College | Las Vegas | Public | 5 |
| Southeast New Mexico College | Carlsbad | Public | 3 |
| New Mexico State University - Grants | Grants | Public | 3 |
| Northern New Mexico College | Espanola | Public | 3 |
| Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College | Ruidoso | Public | 2 |
| University of the Southwest | Hobbs | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).
Top skills
What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in New Mexico
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in New Mexico.
Which New Mexico colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
New Mexico State University (156 graduates a year), University of New Mexico (93 graduates a year) and New Mexico Junior College (46 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in New Mexico, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 New Mexico colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in New Mexico?+
By graduate earnings, University of New Mexico leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in New Mexico, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,370, College Scorecard. Eastern New Mexico University and New Mexico State University follow. By degrees awarded, New Mexico State University is the largest, with 156 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in New Mexico has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of New Mexico tops the list at $38,370. 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 New Mexico?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in New Mexico is $48,570 (median $47,940), across about 2,740 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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