Best Community Colleges in New Mexico 2024
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
- New Mexico Military Institute
- Institute of American Indian Arts
- Central New Mexico Community College
- Clovis Community College
- Santa Fe Community College
- New Mexico State University Grants
- San Juan College
- New Mexico Junior College
- Navajo Technical University
- Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
- New Mexico Military Institute
- Institute of American Indian Arts
- Central New Mexico Community College
- Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
- Navajo Technical University
- Santa Fe Community College
- New Mexico State University Grants
- University of New Mexico–Los Alamos
- San Juan College
- Clovis Community College
- University of New Mexico–Los Alamos 23 to 1
- Central New Mexico Community College 20 to 1
- New Mexico Junior College 17 to 1
- New Mexico State University Grants 17 to 1
- Clovis Community College 17 to 1
- Southeast New Mexico College 13 to 1
- Mesalands Community College 12 to 1
- San Juan College 12 to 1
- New Mexico Military Institute 12 to 1
- Santa Fe Community College 11 to 1
- Institute of American Indian Arts $5,561
- Navajo Technical University $3,278
- New Mexico State University Alamogordo $2,328
- New Mexico State University Grants $2,184
- University of New Mexico–Los Alamos $2,096
- New Mexico Military Institute $2,000
- Santa Fe Community College $1,830
- Southeast New Mexico College $1,776
- Central New Mexico Community College $1,512
- Mesalands Community College $1,512
- Institute of American Indian Arts $12,000
- Navajo Technical University $5,220
- Southeast New Mexico College
- University of New Mexico–Los Alamos
- Mesalands Community College
- New Mexico State University Alamogordo
- Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
- Navajo Technical University
- New Mexico Junior College
- San Juan College
- New Mexico State University Grants
- Santa Fe Community College
- Southeast New Mexico College
- New Mexico State University Alamogordo
- Mesalands Community College
- New Mexico Junior College
- Clovis Community College
- San Juan College
- University of New Mexico–Los Alamos
- New Mexico State University Grants
- Santa Fe Community College
- Navajo Technical University
- Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute 7 to 1
- Navajo Technical University 8 to 1
- Institute of American Indian Arts 9 to 1
- Santa Fe Community College 11 to 1
- New Mexico State University Alamogordo 11 to 1
- Mesalands Community College 12 to 1
- San Juan College 12 to 1
- New Mexico Military Institute 12 to 1
- Southeast New Mexico College 13 to 1
- New Mexico Junior College 17 to 1
- San Juan College $1,344
- Clovis Community College $1,416
- New Mexico Junior College $1,440
- Central New Mexico Community College $1,512
- Mesalands Community College $1,512
- Southeast New Mexico College $1,776
- Santa Fe Community College $1,830
- New Mexico Military Institute $2,000
- University of New Mexico–Los Alamos $2,096
- New Mexico State University Grants $2,184
- Navajo Technical University $5,220
- 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?
- 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
- #24 50 Best Community Colleges Ranked for Students in 2024 #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: $6,965Expenses: $11,926Starting Salary: $48,200Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is New Mexico Military Institute known for?
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
27%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Institute of American Indian Arts
Cost of Degree: $5,561Expenses: $18,668Starting 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
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
28%
Student body
28K
Career Outlook for degree at Central New Mexico Community College
Cost of Degree: $1,858Starting Salary: $34,000What is Central New Mexico Community College known for?
Central New Mexico Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
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:
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:
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:
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
23%
Student body
8K
Career Outlook for degree at San Juan College
Cost of Degree: $1,714Expenses: $16,060Starting 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:
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
49%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at New Mexico Junior College
Cost of Degree: $1,920Expenses: $8,106Starting Salary: $38,900Cost Recoup Time: 6 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
Graduation
13%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Starting Salary: $25,000What is Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute known for?
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
20%
Student body
1K
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
52%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Mesalands Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,136Expenses: $16,774Starting Salary: $31,900Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Mesalands Community College known for?
Mesalands Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
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:
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
22%
Student body
2K
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.
- 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