Best Community Colleges in New Mexico 2024
Best Community Colleges in New Mexico
- New Mexico Military Institute
- Tuition: $7K
- Institute of American Indian Arts
- Tuition: $6K
- Central New Mexico Community College
- Tuition: $2K
- Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
- Tuition: $1K
- Navajo Technical University
- Tuition: $3K
- Santa Fe Community College
- Tuition: $3K
- New Mexico State University Grants
- Tuition: $2K
- San Juan College
- Tuition: $2K
- Clovis Community College
- Tuition: $2K
- New Mexico Junior College
- Tuition: $2K
Key Takeaways
- Fourteen schools in New Mexico meet our criteria for the best community colleges in the state.
- Community colleges offer more affordable tuition rates than a traditional four-year college.
- Graduates with an associate degree can often transfer their credits into an accredited bachelor’s degree program.
The top-rated community colleges offer an accessible intro into higher education, with high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The best community colleges in New Mexico offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.
Colleges and Universities in New Mexico
New Mexico has numerous excellent and highly respected community colleges. Many of these top New Mexico schools are noted for their affordability as well.
Students attending community colleges in New Mexico can earn an associate degree in popular subjects like business management, health services administration, health sciences, and criminal justice. New Mexico also has some of the most affordable community colleges in America, giving students the opportunity to pursue a wide range of on-campus and online degree programs for less than in many other states. The average tuition for a year at one of New Mexico’s fourteen community colleges is $3,000.
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What are New Mexico’s Colleges & Universities?
- 2 Research Universities
- 6 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 4 Graduate Schools
- 7 Public Colleges & Universities
- 2 Private Colleges & Universities
- 6 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 8 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 14 Community Colleges
- Best Online Colleges
New Mexico’s Best Overall
We’ve identified 14 community colleges in New Mexico. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in New Mexico.
Best Community Colleges in New Mexico
- #17 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
56%
Graduation
44%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at New Mexico Military Institute
Cost of Degree: $6,990Expenses: $12,131Starting Salary: $48,200Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is New Mexico Military Institute known for?
Most Influential Alumni
New Mexico Military Institute offers secondary and post-secondary programs that train future leaders of society. It delivers a structured environment for students to get the high-quality education and physical training that they need.
What we love about New Mexico Military Institute:
Students at New Mexico Military Institute develop critical thinking skills and become well-rounded individuals.
New Mexico Military Institute is ideal for students who:
Want to join the military.
New Mexico Military Institute might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer to have less rigorous academic classes.
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
27%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Institute of American Indian Arts
Cost of Degree: $5,801Expenses: $19,288Starting Salary: $18,000Cost Recoup Time: 19 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Institute of American Indian Arts known for?
Institute of American Indian Arts’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Emphasizing research and discoveries, the Institute of American Indian Arts produces creative and expressive graduates.
What we love about the Institute of American Indian Arts:
A variety of exceptional learning opportunities and activities are made available at the Institute of American Indian Arts. Native and non-Natives are welcome to join their growing community of learners.
Institute of American Indian Arts is ideal for students who:
Want to be part of a community that celebrates native cultures.
Institute of American Indian Arts might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer a school with students coming from more diverse backgrounds.
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
28%
Student body
28K
Career Outlook for degree at Central New Mexico Community College
Cost of Degree: $1,934Starting Salary: $34,000What is Central New Mexico Community College known for?
Central New Mexico Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
The Central New Mexico Community College offers affordable, high-quality education. They stand out because they provide the most academic programs for undergraduate students.
What we love about Central New Mexico Community College:
CNM is home to a multitude of technical programs for career readiness.
Central New Mexico Community College is ideal for students who:
Want to be part of a school that applies a value-based approach to education.
Central New Mexico Community College might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer a school that offers more financial aid options.
Graduation
13%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Cost of Degree: $1,095Expenses: $9,624Starting Salary: $25,000Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute known for?
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
The Southern Indian Polytechnic Institute started as a vocational training center. They were focused on educating Native Americans in the past. However, today, they educate a diverse set of students.
What we love about Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute:
One of the main features of Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is to retain the provision of educational opportunities to Native Americans.
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is ideal for students who:
Want to be in a learning environment where Native Americans thrive as learners.
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute might not be the best fit for students who:
Might not be interested in taking STEM programs.
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
18%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Santa Fe Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,505Starting Salary: $35,000What is Santa Fe Community College known for?
Santa Fe Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Santa Fe Community College focuses on establishing a diverse community of leaders.Its academic programs are more affordable than most.
What we love about Santa Fe Community College:
Santa Fe Community College works its best to empower students. Even if you’re still unsure of what program to enroll in, their staff and advisors are readily available to advise and guide you.
Santa Fe Community College is ideal for students who:
Want to enroll in a veterinary program, which students say is a strength of the school.
Santa Fe Community College might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer to attend less rigorous classes.
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
34%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at New Mexico State University Grants
Cost of Degree: $2,376Starting Salary: $40,300What is New Mexico State University Grants known for?
New Mexico State University Grants’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Students at New Mexico State University Grants come from the nearby local communities of New Mexico. The school offers 15 associate degree programs, 14 certificate degrees, and non-credit programs.
What we love about New Mexico State University Grants:
While the majority of students are New Mexicans, the school takes pride in a culturally diverse environment so that every learner feels at home.
New Mexico State University Grants is ideal for students who:
Prefer a school with a high educational value.
New Mexico State University Grants might not be the best fit for students who:
Would rather attend a bigger school.
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
23%
Student body
8K
Career Outlook for degree at San Juan College
Cost of Degree: $1,790Expenses: $16,582Starting Salary: $36,700Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is San Juan College known for?
San Juan College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Located in Farmington, New Mexico, San Juan College offers 140 academic programs. Popular for its two-year degree programs, it also offers a range of non-credit options.
What we love about San Juan College:
The school delivers the right balance of rigor, innovation, and affordability.
San Juan College is ideal for students who:
Want to be career-ready in a global economy.
San Juan College might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer a school that isn’t as strict in its campus rules.
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
41%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Clovis Community College
Cost of Degree: $1,736Starting Salary: $32,300What is Clovis Community College known for?
Clovis Community College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
As a public community college, Clovis Community College offers an excellent range of online programs.
What we love about Clovis Community College:
Diverse learning opportunities are being offered at Clovis Community College.
Clovis Community College is ideal for students who:
Are looking for top-quality degree programs in online learning format.
Clovis Community College might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer a community college with more students.
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
49%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at New Mexico Junior College
Cost of Degree: $1,920Expenses: $9,146Starting Salary: $38,900Cost Recoup Time: 7 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is New Mexico Junior College known for?
New Mexico Junior College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
New Mexico Junior College aims to promote student success through effective learning.
Students will experience interactive collaboration while being involved in the community.
What we love about New Mexico Junior College:
There is a diverse sense of community at New Mexico Junior College. They provide affordable educational experiences and ensure to guide students every step of the way until graduation.
New Mexico Junior College is ideal for students who:
Want to be a part of a diverse and dynamic community.
New Mexico Junior College might not be the best fit for students who:
May find it difficult to apply for financial aid.
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
52%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Mesalands Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,136Starting Salary: $31,900What is Mesalands Community College known for?
Mesalands Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
With proactive research projects and a training center, Mesalands Community College is the perfect community college for those who want to study for two years and later on transfer to a bachelor’s degree.
What we love about Mesalands Community College:
You won’t bypass having a fun college experience when you enroll at Mesalands Community College. They will help and support you in developing an effective path toward achieving your goals.
Mesalands Community College is ideal for students who:
Want to combine traditional and online learning.
Mesalands Community College might not be the best fit for students who:
Might find it difficult to use up transfer credits.
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
20%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at New Mexico State University Alamogordo
Cost of Degree: $3,000Starting Salary: $40,300All the faculty and staff at New Mexico State University Alamogordo are professional, friendly, and supportive.
New Mexico State University Alamogordo is ideal for students who:
Want to attend a school with a diverse population.
New Mexico State University Alamogordo might not be the best fit for students who:
May find their admission processes to be a bit slow.
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
30%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at University of New Mexico–Los Alamos
Cost of Degree: $2,214Starting Salary: $43,900What is University of New Mexico–Los Alamos known for?
University of New Mexico–Los Alamos’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Any type of student can find an academic program that they want at the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos. Aside from associate and certificate programs, UNM comes with bachelor’s and graduate degrees too.
What we love about the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos:
The University of New Mexico-Los Alamos ensures that they maintain the same quality of education on all platforms such as in traditional and online learning settings.
The University of New Mexico-Los Alamos is ideal for students who:
Want to participate in arts, clubs, and extra-curricular activities.
The University of New Mexico-Los Alamos might not be the best fit for students who:
May not be a fan of the location of the school.
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
22%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Southeast New Mexico College
Cost of Degree: $1,968Starting Salary: $40,300All students at Southeast New Mexico College can expect to have full support from the faculty and staff.
Southeast New Mexico College is ideal for students who:
Seek an affordable college.
Southeast New Mexico College might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer to attend a school in an urban area.
2023 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
- Institute of American Indian Arts
- New Mexico Military Institute
- Santa Fe Community College
- Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
- San Juan College
- New Mexico State University Alamogordo
- Central New Mexico Community College
- New Mexico State University Grants
- Navajo Technical University
- Clovis Community College
- Southeast New Mexico College
- New Mexico Junior College
- Mesalands Community College
