Cheapest Criminal Justice and Corrections Colleges in New Mexico

Northern New Mexico College stands out with just $5,216 in annual costs, making it the most affordable Criminal Justice program in the state by a significant margin. The price gap widens dramatically across New Mexico's eight programs, reaching $39,885 at private Brookline College-Albuquerque. This affordability matters in a state where federal facilities like Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories create steady demand for security and law enforcement professionals. Graduates typically earn between $28,381 and $33,993, with the Legislative Lottery Scholarship helping reduce costs further at public institutions.

Programs

$5,216 – $39,885

Net Price Range

$30,824

Avg. Program Earnings

41.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

8 Criminal Justice and Corrections Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Northern New Mexico College Espanola, New Mexico	$5,216	$6,400	32.6%
2	Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus Portales, New Mexico	$6,199	$6,863	39.8%	27.6%
3	New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, New Mexico	$6,747	$8,147	52.2%	78.1%
4	Western New Mexico University Silver City, New Mexico	$7,912	$7,868	34.9%
5	New Mexico Highlands University Las Vegas, New Mexico	$14,141	$7,260	25.6%
6	University of New Mexico-Main Campus Albuquerque, New Mexico	$17,478	$8,115	52.5%	96.1%
7	University of the Southwest Hobbs, New Mexico	$19,969	$16,670	26.7%
8	Brookline College-Albuquerque Albuquerque, New Mexico	$39,885		65.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the massive cost difference between the cheapest and most expensive programs?

The gap reaches $34,669 between Northern New Mexico College at $5,216 and Brookline College-Albuquerque at $39,885. Public universities benefit from state funding and the Legislative Lottery Scholarship, while private institutions rely on tuition revenue and typically carry higher operational costs.

How do graduation rates compare across different price points?

Brookline College-Albuquerque achieves the highest graduation rate at 65.30% despite being the most expensive option. Among affordable public schools, New Mexico State University graduates 52.20% of students while Northern New Mexico College graduates just 32.60%.

Where do Criminal Justice graduates find the best earning potential in New Mexico?

Western New Mexico University graduates earn the highest median income at $33,993, followed by New Mexico Highlands University at $31,314. Federal installations like Los Alamos and Sandia Labs offer security positions, while the state's growing renewable energy sector creates additional opportunities.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.