Best Community Colleges in New Mexico 2024

Badge for BEST IN NEW MEXICO COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated 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.

10 Best Community Colleges in New Mexico

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  1. New Mexico Military Institute
  2. Institute of American Indian Arts
  3. Central New Mexico Community College
  4. Clovis Community College
  5. Santa Fe Community College
  6. New Mexico State University Grants
  7. San Juan College
  8. New Mexico Junior College
  9. Navajo Technical University
  10. Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
  1. New Mexico Military Institute
  2. Institute of American Indian Arts
  3. Central New Mexico Community College
  4. Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
  5. Navajo Technical University
  6. Santa Fe Community College
  7. New Mexico State University Grants
  8. University of New Mexico–Los Alamos
  9. San Juan College
  10. Clovis Community College
  1. Institute of American Indian Arts 100%
  2. New Mexico Military Institute 56%
  1. University of New Mexico–Los Alamos 23 to 1
  2. Central New Mexico Community College 20 to 1
  3. New Mexico Junior College 17 to 1
  4. New Mexico State University Grants 17 to 1
  5. Clovis Community College 17 to 1
  6. Southeast New Mexico College 13 to 1
  7. Mesalands Community College 12 to 1
  8. San Juan College 12 to 1
  9. New Mexico Military Institute 12 to 1
  10. Santa Fe Community College 11 to 1
  1. Institute of American Indian Arts $5,561
  2. Navajo Technical University $3,278
  3. New Mexico State University Alamogordo $2,328
  4. New Mexico State University Grants $2,184
  5. University of New Mexico–Los Alamos $2,096
  6. New Mexico Military Institute $2,000
  7. Santa Fe Community College $1,830
  8. Southeast New Mexico College $1,776
  9. Central New Mexico Community College $1,512
  10. Mesalands Community College $1,512
  1. Institute of American Indian Arts $12,000
  2. Navajo Technical University $5,220
  1. Southeast New Mexico College
  2. University of New Mexico–Los Alamos
  3. Mesalands Community College
  4. New Mexico State University Alamogordo
  5. Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
  6. Navajo Technical University
  7. New Mexico Junior College
  8. San Juan College
  9. New Mexico State University Grants
  10. Santa Fe Community College
  1. Southeast New Mexico College
  2. New Mexico State University Alamogordo
  3. Mesalands Community College
  4. New Mexico Junior College
  5. Clovis Community College
  6. San Juan College
  7. University of New Mexico–Los Alamos
  8. New Mexico State University Grants
  9. Santa Fe Community College
  10. Navajo Technical University
  1. New Mexico Military Institute 56%
  2. Institute of American Indian Arts 100%
  1. Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute 7 to 1
  2. Navajo Technical University 8 to 1
  3. Institute of American Indian Arts 9 to 1
  4. Santa Fe Community College 11 to 1
  5. New Mexico State University Alamogordo 11 to 1
  6. Mesalands Community College 12 to 1
  7. San Juan College 12 to 1
  8. New Mexico Military Institute 12 to 1
  9. Southeast New Mexico College 13 to 1
  10. New Mexico Junior College 17 to 1
  1. San Juan College $1,344
  2. Clovis Community College $1,416
  3. New Mexico Junior College $1,440
  4. Central New Mexico Community College $1,512
  5. Mesalands Community College $1,512
  6. Southeast New Mexico College $1,776
  7. Santa Fe Community College $1,830
  8. New Mexico Military Institute $2,000
  9. University of New Mexico–Los Alamos $2,096
  10. New Mexico State University Grants $2,184
  1. Navajo Technical University $5,220
  2. Institute of American Indian Arts $12,000

Colleges and Universities in New Mexico

New Mexico has 23 higher learning establishments to choose from, and a tuition range of $1,000-$8,000 in the public sphere makes this state one of the most affordable in the nation. The University of New Mexico, located in Albuquerque, has a student population just over 20,000 and an affordable cost of $8,000. The school is known for its health sciences and business programs.

New Mexico also has four tribal colleges and universities, including the largest tribal college in the country, Navajo Technical University. Students can complete programs in animal science, early childhood multicultural education, and industrial engineering. In addition, New Mexico provides two loan forgiveness programs, one for health professionals and one for public service attorneys. Those working in designated shortage areas can qualify for up to $25,000 per year, and attorneys providing service for government, non-profit, or underserved residents may acquire $7,200 per year.

Pueblos, roadrunners, cacti, and the Rio Grande make New Mexico one of the most unique states in the nation. Though its alleged history of UFO sightings is perhaps its most famous draw, New Mexico has another fascinating monument worth mentioning - Capulin Volcano. The peak of this extinct cider cone volcano, which can be reached by car, offers visitors a view of four other states. Students looking to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in The Land of Enchantment are sure to find interesting activities to do alongside their studies.

Prepare to be enchanted by the higher education options and career prospects that New Mexico has to offer.

What are New Mexico’s Colleges & Universities?

New Mexico’s Best Overall

New Mexico's Best Community Colleges Badge
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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

  1. Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    56%

    Graduation

    44%

    Student body

    <1K

    Career Outlook for degree at New Mexico Military Institute

    Cost of Degree: $6,965
    Expenses: $11,926
    Starting Salary: $48,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  2. Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Acceptance

    100%

    Graduation

    27%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at Institute of American Indian Arts

    Cost of Degree: $5,561
    Expenses: $18,668
    Starting Salary: $18,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 19 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Institute of American Indian Arts known for?

    Institute of American Indian Arts’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  3. Tuition + fees

    $2K

    Graduation

    28%

    Student body

    28K

    Career Outlook for degree at Central New Mexico Community College

    Cost of Degree: $1,858
    Starting Salary: $34,000
    What is Central New Mexico Community College known for?

    Central New Mexico Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  4. Tuition + fees

    $2K

    Graduation

    41%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for degree at Clovis Community College

    Cost of Degree: $1,736
    Starting Salary: $32,300
    What is Clovis Community College known for?

    Clovis Community College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  5. Tuition + fees

    $3K

    Graduation

    18%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for degree at Santa Fe Community College

    Cost of Degree: $2,505
    Starting Salary: $35,000
    What is Santa Fe Community College known for?

    Santa Fe Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  6. Tuition + fees

    $2K

    Graduation

    34%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at New Mexico State University Grants

    Cost of Degree: $2,376
    Starting Salary: $40,300
    What is New Mexico State University Grants known for?

    New Mexico State University Grants’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  7. #7

    San Juan College

    Farmington , NM

    Tuition + fees

    $2K

    Graduation

    23%

    Student body

    8K

    Career Outlook for degree at San Juan College

    Cost of Degree: $1,714
    Expenses: $16,060
    Starting Salary: $36,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is San Juan College known for?

    San Juan College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  8. Tuition + fees

    $2K

    Graduation

    49%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at New Mexico Junior College

    Cost of Degree: $1,920
    Expenses: $8,106
    Starting Salary: $38,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is New Mexico Junior College known for?

    New Mexico Junior College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  9. Graduation

    13%

    Student body

    <1K

    Career Outlook for degree at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute

    Starting Salary: $25,000
    What is Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute known for?

    Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  10. Tuition + fees

    $3K

    Graduation

    20%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at New Mexico State University Alamogordo

    Cost of Degree: $2,520
    Starting Salary: $40,300
    What is New Mexico State University Alamogordo known for?

    New Mexico State University Alamogordo’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  11. Tuition + fees

    $2K

    Graduation

    52%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at Mesalands Community College

    Cost of Degree: $2,136
    Expenses: $16,774
    Starting Salary: $31,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Mesalands Community College known for?

    Mesalands Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  12. Tuition + fees

    $2K

    Graduation

    30%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of New Mexico–Los Alamos

    Cost of Degree: $2,214
    Starting Salary: $43,900
    What is University of New Mexico–Los Alamos known for?

    University of New Mexico–Los Alamos’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  13. Tuition + fees

    $2K

    Graduation

    22%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at Southeast New Mexico College

    Cost of Degree: $1,968
    Starting Salary: $40,300
    What is Southeast New Mexico College known for?

    Southeast New Mexico College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 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.

  1. Institute of American Indian Arts
  2. New Mexico Military Institute
  3. Santa Fe Community College
  4. Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
  5. San Juan College
  6. New Mexico State University Alamogordo
  7. Central New Mexico Community College
  8. New Mexico State University Grants
  9. Navajo Technical University
  10. Clovis Community College
  11. Southeast New Mexico College
  12. New Mexico Junior College
  13. Mesalands Community College
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