Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $32,386 place Western New Mexico University below the $38,544 national median for Criminal Justice and Corrections — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
The 16.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 36% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $32,386 far exceeding the $13,750 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #232 out of 629 programs, Western New Mexico University's Criminal Justice and Corrections offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth from $32,386 to $52,188 over five years (61% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.