U.S. median for this major: $55,208.
College Scorecard field of study; 133 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 41% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $23,274. College Scorecard.
NMSU Criminal Justice: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Criminal Justice nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses NMSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $6,648 | $29,650 | 1.6 years |
| $30–48k | $7,424 | $33,111 | 1.7 years |
| $48–75k | $9,861 | $43,980 | 2.3 years |
| $75–110k | $13,146 | $58,631 | 3.1 years |
| $110k+ | $14,049 | $62,659 | 3.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (32% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Criminal Justice graduates 4 years after graduating ($49,834) minus $30,723 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NM (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $19,111 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Criminal Justice at New Mexico colleges
Every New Mexico college we cover that reports Criminal Justice graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern New Mexico University | $56,614 | $17,912 | $4,904 | 45% |
| 2 | University of New Mexico | $52,311 | $16,500 | $15,489 | 55% |
| 3 | New Mexico State University | $49,834 | $20,642 | $8,889 | 55% |
| 4 | Western New Mexico University | $46,184 | $20,379 | $8,522 | 32% |
| 5 | New Mexico Highlands University | $45,868 | — | $14,838 | 26% |
2 more New Mexico colleges offer Criminal Justice but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Criminal Justice graduates
Police officer
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.5% by 2035. Typical entry: high school diploma or equivalent.
Compliance Officers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at NMSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NMSU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 55% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $39,067
- Full cost breakdown · all 79 majors · overview
Related majors at NMSU
- Anthropology—
NMSU Criminal Justice questions
How much do NMSU Criminal Justice graduates earn?
Criminal Justice graduates of New Mexico State University earn a median $49,834 four years after graduating and $29,553 one year after. The U.S. median for Criminal Justice graduates across 584 colleges is $55,208.
How much debt do NMSU Criminal Justice graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Criminal Justice graduates of New Mexico State University is $20,642, about 41% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is NMSU a good school for Criminal Justice in New Mexico?
On pay, Criminal Justice graduates of New Mexico State University earn $49,834 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 5 New Mexico colleges ($49,834) and $5,374 below the U.S. median ($55,208). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NMSU rank for Criminal Justice in New Mexico?
Of 5 New Mexico colleges reporting Criminal Justice graduate earnings, New Mexico State University ranks 3rd. The highest is Eastern New Mexico University at $56,614.
What jobs do Criminal Justice graduates get?
A common career is police officer, with a median wage of $60,720 in the Las Cruces, NM area and $76,210 nationally. Others include compliance officers and child, family, and school social workers.
Is NMSU the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing NMSU with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “New Mexico State University Criminal Justice: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/majors/criminal-justice (College Scorecard and BLS data).