Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Socorro, TX (2026)

Socorro, Texas has a population of about 36,237. The city’s median household income is $52,100 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 10.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Socorro, with tuition ranging from $2,616 to $25,271 per year. In Texas, the top-earning criminal justice-related role is Judge or Magistrate at a median $139,990 annually (BLS, May 2024).


Closest Criminal Justice Schools to Socorro

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer criminal justice programs. Distances are calculated from Socorro city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
El Paso Community CollegeEl Paso, TX11.3 miContact school for pricing
The University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso, TX16.8 miContact school for pricing
New Mexico State University-Dona AnaLas Cruces, NM52.2 miContact school for pricing
New Mexico State University-Main CampusLas Cruces, NM55.7 mi$8,147 - $25,271
New Mexico State University-AlamogordoAlamogordo, NM90.6 mi$2,616 - $13,482

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Texas schools on the Texas criminal justice page.


Criminal Justice Wages Near Socorro

Socorro is part of the El Paso, TX metro area (BLS area code 21340). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Texas statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Attorney$112,380El Paso, TX$125,006
Judge or Magistrate$139,990TX statewide$155,717
Police Supervisor$117,200El Paso, TX$130,367
Detective or Criminal Investigator$107,240El Paso, TX$119,288
Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$77,300El Paso, TX$85,984
Correctional Officer$54,740El Paso, TX$60,890
Probation Officer$52,660El Paso, TX$58,576
Forensic Science Technician$54,120El Paso, TX$60,200
Paralegal or Legal Assistant$48,510El Paso, TX$53,960
Information Security Analyst$102,650El Paso, TX$114,182

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.


Socorro at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population36,237Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$52,100Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+10.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)89.9 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Socorro-Area Cities With Criminal Justice Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited criminal justice programs are near Socorro, TX?

Our directory lists 5 criminal justice programs within 100 miles of Socorro. The closest is El Paso Community College in El Paso, TX (11.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is New Mexico State University-Alamogordo (90.6 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying criminal justice roles near Socorro?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying criminal justice-related roles near Socorro are: Judge or Magistrate ($139,990), Police Supervisor ($117,200), Attorney ($112,380). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Texas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Las Cruces instead of Socorro?

Las Cruces, NM is 56.8 miles from Socorro 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.

Is Socorro an affordable place to study criminal justice?

Socorro’s median household income of $52,100 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Socorro while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Texas public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

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.