Criminal Justice and Corrections at New Mexico State University-Alamogordo

New Mexico State University-Alamogordo's criminal justice associate's degree sits in an interesting middle ground. While earnings trail the national median by nearly $6,000, this program actually performs at the state median—landing in the 60th percentile among New Mexico's 22 criminal justice programs. The real story here is the debt: at just $7,425, students graduate owing less than half what their peers nationally carry, which translates to exceptional debt-to-earnings metrics even with below-average pay.

The modest starting salary of $27,638 reflects the realities of entry-level criminal justice work, particularly in New Mexico's smaller markets. However, the 11% earnings growth to $30,689 by year four suggests reasonable career progression. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27, graduates can realistically manage loan payments while building experience in law enforcement, corrections, or related fields.

For families specifically targeting New Mexico careers—where this program matches the state median—the low debt burden makes this a viable path into public safety work. The concerning factor is that national comparison: students at top programs earn $10,000+ more annually. If your child plans to stay local and values minimal debt, this works. If they're considering out-of-state opportunities or need higher earnings to support themselves, Central New Mexico Community College's program delivers 30% higher pay for similar credentials.