Criminal Justice Degree in Las Cruces, NM — Salary & ROI 2026
Criminal Justice degree analysis for Las Cruces, NM. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$62K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$76K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.8 yrs
in Las Cruces
Cost of Living
123
index (100 = avg)
Criminal Justice in Las Cruces, NM Overview
Las Cruces, New Mexico (pop. 111,385) has 12 colleges offering Criminal Justice programs. The local cost of living index of 123 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,443/month. Criminal Justice enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Law Enforcement and Criminology. The adjusted starting salary in Las Cruces is approximately $61,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$7,554/yr
Private Tuition
$45,711/yr
Room & Board
$19,302/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,870/yr
Unemployment
6.7%
Graduation Rate
60%
Criminal Justice Salary in Las Cruces (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Las Cruces's cost of living index of 123 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Criminal Justice salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Las Cruces adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Criminal Justice ROI Calculator for Las Cruces
Estimate your return on investment for a Criminal Justice degree using local Las Cruces tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,554 | Private avg: $45,711
Las Cruces avg aid: $11,870/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$107,424
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,450
vs HS diploma in Las Cruces
ROI Payback Period
5.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Las Cruces
$323,076
Lifetime earnings premium ($430,500) minus total education cost ($107,424)
Student Loan Payoff for Criminal Justice in Las Cruces
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Las Cruces for Criminal Justice
New Mexico State University
public
$7,554/yr
$30,216 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Dona Ana Community College
$1,848/yr
Top Employers for Criminal Justice in Las Cruces
Las Cruces offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Criminal Justice graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Las Cruces Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Criminal Justice Job Titles
Criminal Justice in Nearby New Mexico Cities
Other Social Sciences Majors in Las Cruces
International Relations
$62K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$62K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$62K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$62K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$62K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$54K starting · 6 yr ROI
Sociology
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Criminal Justice Degree in Las Cruces — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Criminal Justice ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Las Cruces.