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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in New Mexico

7 Colleges in the United States
514 Criminal Justice & Corrections Degrees Awarded
$35,758 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice & Corrections programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools to find the best for criminal justice & corrections students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections in New Mexico

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice & corrections education in New Mexico.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Corrections

1

Our analysis ranked University Of New Mexico Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 91 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of New Mexico Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $38,370. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for University Of New Mexico Main Campus

2

Central New Mexico Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 53 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Central New Mexico Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $35,865 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,112. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Central New Mexico Community College

3
San Juan College crest
San Juan College
Farmington, NM

San Juan College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public university. San Juan College awarded about 23 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of San Juan College earn a median of $49,243 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,768. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from San Juan College

4

New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. New Mexico State University Main Campus awarded about 157 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from New Mexico State University Main Campus generally make around $34,870. New Mexico State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $14,034 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for New Mexico State University Main Campus

5

New Mexico Highlands University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections, ranking #5. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Las Vegas. Roughly 27% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at New Mexico Highlands University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $21,630 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,900. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for New Mexico Highlands University

6

Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earned the #6 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Portales. About 39% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earn around $31,599 in the first couple years of their career. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,912 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus

7

Western New Mexico University came in at #7 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Silver City, Western New Mexico University is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 26% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Western New Mexico University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Western New Mexico University earn a median of $32,386 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,379 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Western New Mexico University

8

New Mexico State University Dona Ana came in at #8 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public university. About 42 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at New Mexico State University Dona Ana in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from New Mexico State University Dona Ana earn around $27,638 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,425. Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at New Mexico State University Dona Ana

9

New Mexico Junior College earned the #9 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Hobbs. New Mexico Junior College awarded about 64 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from New Mexico Junior College earn around $50,220 in the first couple years of their career. New Mexico Junior College graduates carry a median of $9,986 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for New Mexico Junior College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 24 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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