Best Small Colleges in New Mexico 2025

Badge for BEST IN NEW MEXICO SMALL COLLEGES
By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Chloe Dembski
Published:
Updated:

Small colleges in New Mexico are a great option for students interested in a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Whether the focus is on the technical or on the liberal arts, small colleges give you the chance to pursue a well-rounded education while working closely with classmates and professors in a dynamic community atmosphere.

Key Takeaways

  • The top small colleges in New Mexico are known for their intimate learning environments, offering low student-to-faculty ratios that foster personalized attention, strong mentorship, and collaborative learning experiences.
  • The colleges in our ranking emphasize programs in Southwestern and Indigenous studies, allowing students to deeply explore New Mexico’s rich cultural heritage through unique coursework and field experiences.
  • Located in scenic, natural settings, many of the best small colleges in New Mexico offer ample opportunities for outdoor activities and environmental studies, appealing to students interested in hands-on learning and exploring New Mexico’s diverse landscapes.

Best Small Colleges in New Mexico in 2025

  1. Eastern New Mexico University
    +1
  2. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
    –1
  3. New Mexico Highlands University
    +1
  4. Western New Mexico University
    –1
  5. University of the Southwest
    +1
  6. Northern New Mexico College
    –1

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the top schools in our ranking of the best small colleges in New Mexico saw a fair amount of shuffling. Eastern New Mexico University gained the top ranking position as the university introduced new student-centered resources and infrastructure enhancements. A newly built Student Success Center offers tutoring, career counseling, and mentorship programs designed to support students throughout their academic journey. The university has also introduced upgraded tech labs and a digital media center, appealing to students in tech-focused fields by providing hands-on experience with industry-standard software and equipment.

Additionally, ENMU has expanded its scholarship programs and financial aid resources, making college more accessible and appealing to students from diverse backgrounds across New Mexico and beyond.

The following list of the best small colleges and universities in New Mexico is composed mainly of four-year undergraduate schools (though a handful also offer graduate programs). We’ve identified 6 small colleges in New Mexico. The list below of the best small colleges in New Mexico. To be included schools must fully accredited, and must have student body populations below 5,000 students.

Best Small Colleges in New Mexico

  1. #1

    Eastern New Mexico University

    Portales , NM
    #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #4 Best Colleges in New Mexico 2024 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in New Mexico 2024 #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    28%

    Graduation

    41%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    970/19

    Career Outlook for degree at Eastern New Mexico University

    Cost of Degree: $6,738
    Expenses: $14,178
    Starting Salary: $34,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Eastern New Mexico University known for?

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

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  2. #2

    New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

    Socorro , NM
    #16 Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #3 Best Grad Schools in New Mexico 2025 #3 Best Colleges in New Mexico 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    74%

    Graduation

    55%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

    Cost of Degree: $9,058
    Expenses: $16,142
    Starting Salary: $58,500
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology known for?

    New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  3. #3

    New Mexico Highlands University

    Las Vegas , NM
    #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #6 Best Colleges in New Mexico 2024 #6 Most Affordable Colleges in New Mexico 2024 #6 Best Public Colleges in New Mexico 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Graduation

    25%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for degree at New Mexico Highlands University

    Cost of Degree: $7,260
    Expenses: $14,786
    Starting Salary: $37,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is New Mexico Highlands University known for?

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

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  4. #4

    Western New Mexico University

    Silver City , NM
    #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #5 Best Colleges in New Mexico 2024 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in New Mexico 2024 #5 Best Public Colleges in New Mexico 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Graduation

    31%

    Student body

    4K

    Career Outlook for degree at Western New Mexico University

    Cost of Degree: $7,868
    Expenses: $16,828
    Starting Salary: $35,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Western New Mexico University known for?

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

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  7. #6

    Northern New Mexico College

    Espanola , NM
    #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #7 Best Colleges in New Mexico 2024 #7 Most Affordable Colleges in New Mexico 2024 #7 Best Public Colleges in New Mexico 2024

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    40%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at Northern New Mexico College

    Cost of Degree: $5,064
    Starting Salary: $30,000
    What is Northern New Mexico College known for?

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

    Compare school
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New Mexico’s Best Small College in Your Area of Interest

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2021 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.

  1. New Mexico Highlands University
  2. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
  3. St. John's College
  4. Eastern New Mexico University
  5. Western New Mexico University
  6. Northern New Mexico College
  7. University of the Southwest

Many states have great small colleges. If you’re interested in looking into what other states have to offer, check out the best small colleges in Arizona and Virginia.

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