NMSU’s criminal justice programsearned top honors for overall quality, affordability, and commitment to student success.
2025 - CJ Master's Program is recognized for its great online program!
NMSU earned multiple spots in the top 100 best online programs, including master’s in criminal justice (tied 52), bachelor’s in psychology (tied 25), bachelor’s for veterans (tied 46), bachelor’s in business (tied 68), master’s in information technology (74-97), and bachelor’s programs overall (tied 84).
$250 Discount Per Credit Hour for Active Law Enforcement Officers
We offer active-duty law enforcement officers a tuition discount for our online bachelor's and master's programs.
Eligible officers can now receive a $250 discount per credit hour for our Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice. This significant reduction is part of our commitment to supporting those who serve and protect our communities.
Program Details:
Delivery Format: 100% online with optional synchronous sessions available
Program Credits: 36 credits
Program Length: 1.5 years full-time; 2 years part-time
Cost Per Credit Hour: $444.40*
Active Law Enforcement Cost Per Credit Hour: $250*
How to Apply:
Apply Online: All applicants should apply online for the Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Submit a Memo: Along with the admissions documents, submit a memo on your police department’s letterhead, signed by your leader, stating that you are an active-duty officer.
Our Mission
The mission of the Department of Criminal Justice is to offer quality undergraduate and graduate educational programming that provides students with valuable insights into the criminal justice system through a diverse and inter-disciplinary curriculum, experiential learning, and faculty-led research opportunities. Students will develop the skills necessary for successful careers in fields related to criminology and criminal justice. The department supports and encourages scholarly, experiential, and applied research endeavors, including those involving collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies dealing with crime, law enforcement, corrections, justice studies, law, juvenile justice, social justice, immigration, punishment and the borderlands.
Our Vision
The vision of the Department of Criminal Justice is to be one of the nation’s premier academic units specializing in crime and criminal justice issues, including those of the southwestern borderlands region. The curriculum shall continue to evolve to embrace this uniqueness toward supporting NMSU’s Federal Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), Minority Serving Institution (MSI), and Land Grant missions. We seek to promote interdisciplinary inquiry in our approach to education with real-world experience, and theoretical, policy- oriented, and applied research in criminology, law, social justice, juvenile justice, human trafficking, and corrections. The department seeks to prepare traditional and non-traditional students with the tools necessary to excel as future professionals and leaders in the field of Criminal Justice.
About Us
Founded in 1962, the Department of Criminal Justice at New Mexico State University is one of the oldest Criminal Justice programs in the nation. It is one of the largest academic departments in the College of Arts and Sciences and as a graduate of our Department, you are part of a strong community of alumni representing an expansive range of positions in premier agencies across the country and around the world. Our Department is proud of the many successes of its alumni.
CJ faculty
Faculty members of the Department of Criminal Justice care deeply about our students, and the awards we have received attest to this caring attitude. A goal of the faculty is to extend their knowledge and skills to agencies and groups across the State and within the Community in an effort to be proactive in the prevention of crime and to assist in developing cutting edge best practices.
What Can I Do With a CJ Major?
Explore opportunities in the criminal justice field here
Careers in Forensics? Click hereto learn more about Careers in Forensics: Analysis, Evidence, and law
