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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in New Mexico

5 Colleges in the United States
$13,947 Avg Student Debt
$38,002 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Badge [Criminal Justice Studies](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice studies education at a price that pays off.

For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice studies students.

What’s on this page:

2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in New Mexico

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice studies, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools

1

For return on investment in criminal justice studies, no school beat Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus this year. Set in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,074, with out-of-state students paying around $9,054. Students borrow a median of $17,912 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus generally make around $31,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.

2

New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,322, compared with $6,360 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,425 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from New Mexico State University Dona Ana generally make around $27,638. That is a strong return on a $7,425 median debt.

3

New Mexico Junior College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Set in the town of Hobbs, New Mexico Junior College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,440, with out-of-state students paying around $2,280. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $9,986. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of New Mexico Junior College earn a median of $50,220 early in their careers. Set against $9,986 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

4

Western New Mexico University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Western New Mexico University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Silver City. Students from in state pay about $7,855 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,341 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $20,379. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Western New Mexico University earn a median of $32,386 early in their careers. Set against $20,379 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

5

Students looking for strong value in criminal justice studies will find it at New Mexico State University Main Campus, which ranked #5. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,034 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $34,870. That is a strong return on a $14,034 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.

View All Criminal Justice Studies Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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