Hobbs, New Mexico has a population of about 39,887. The city’s median household income is $65,691 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Hobbs, with tuition ranging from $1,176 to $11,794 per year. In New Mexico, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $164,340 annually (BLS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Hobbs city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico Junior College | Hobbs, NM | 2.4 mi | $1,440 - $9,150 | – |
| Southeast New Mexico College | Carlsbad, NM | 67.3 mi | $1,176 - $11,794 | – |
| South Plains College | Levelland, TX | 73.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Odessa College | Odessa, TX | 74.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The University of Texas Permian Basin | Odessa, TX | 76.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all New Mexico schools on the New Mexico criminal justice page.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (New Mexico, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Attorney | $112,500 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $164,340 |
| Police Supervisor | $93,290 |
| Detective or Criminal Investigator | $86,840 |
| Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $63,340 |
| Correctional Officer | $47,420 |
| Probation Officer | $63,500 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $61,890 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $56,620 |
| Information Security Analyst | $133,780 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,887 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $65,691 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 16.6% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Hobbs. The closest is New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, NM (2.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is The University of Texas Permian Basin (76.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS May 2024 state wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles in New Mexico are: Judge or Magistrate ($164,340), Information Security Analyst ($133,780), Attorney ($112,500). Wages for Hobbs workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Carlsbad, NM is 66.6 miles from Hobbs and has its own set of local criminal justice programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Hobbs’s median household income of $65,691 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hobbs while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and New Mexico public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Return to Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in New Mexico (2026)