Best Online Colleges in New Mexico 2024
Find the best online colleges in New Mexico ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.
Top Online Colleges in New Mexico
- University of New Mexico
- New Mexico State University
- University of Phoenix
- National American University
- Eastern New Mexico University
- New Mexico Highlands University
- Western New Mexico University
- University of the Southwest
- University of New Mexico
- New Mexico State University
- University of Phoenix
- Eastern New Mexico University
- New Mexico Highlands University
- Western New Mexico University
- National American University
- University of the Southwest
- University of the Southwest 19 to 1
- University of New Mexico 17 to 1
- New Mexico State University 16 to 1
- Eastern New Mexico University 16 to 1
- Western New Mexico University 11 to 1
- New Mexico Highlands University 10 to 1
- National American University 6 to 1
- University of the Southwest $17,200
- National American University $16,065
- University of New Mexico $6,803
- New Mexico State University $6,283
- New Mexico Highlands University $4,782
- Western New Mexico University $4,770
- Eastern New Mexico University $4,194
- University of the Southwest $22,500
- National American University $15,750
- University of New Mexico $6,287
- Eastern New Mexico University $5,454
- New Mexico State University $5,184
- New Mexico Highlands University $4,109
- Western New Mexico University $3,843
- University of the Southwest
- Western New Mexico University
- New Mexico Highlands University
- Eastern New Mexico University
- National American University
- University of Phoenix
- New Mexico State University
- University of New Mexico
- University of the Southwest
- National American University
- Western New Mexico University
- New Mexico Highlands University
- Eastern New Mexico University
- University of Phoenix
- New Mexico State University
- University of New Mexico
- National American University 6 to 1
- New Mexico Highlands University 10 to 1
- Western New Mexico University 11 to 1
- New Mexico State University 16 to 1
- Eastern New Mexico University 16 to 1
- University of New Mexico 17 to 1
- University of the Southwest 19 to 1
- Eastern New Mexico University $4,194
- Western New Mexico University $4,770
- New Mexico Highlands University $4,782
- New Mexico State University $6,283
- University of New Mexico $6,803
- National American University $16,065
- University of the Southwest $17,200
- Western New Mexico University $3,843
- New Mexico Highlands University $4,109
- New Mexico State University $5,184
- Eastern New Mexico University $5,454
- University of New Mexico $6,287
- National American University $15,750
- University of the Southwest $22,500
Featured Programs
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
Best Online Colleges in New Mexico 2023
- #1 Most Affordable Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #1 Best Research Universities in New Mexico 2024 #1 Best Grad Schools in New Mexico 2025 #1 Best Colleges in New Mexico 2024
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
52%
Student body
24K
Career Outlook for degree at University of New Mexico
Cost of Degree: $8,115Expenses: $17,920Starting Salary: $43,900Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Bachelor's Degrees
BA Chicana & Chicano Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Native American Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Nursing (RN-to-BSN)
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Economics
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Community Health Education
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Instructional Technology & Training
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Intercultural Communication
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Interpersonal Communication
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Liberal Arts
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Psychology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Radiologic Science
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Strategic Communication
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #2 Best Research Universities in New Mexico 2024 #2 Best Grad Schools in New Mexico 2025 #2 Best Colleges in New Mexico 2024
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
78%
Graduation
51%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1020/20
Career Outlook for degree at New Mexico State University
Cost of Degree: $8,147Expenses: $17,964Starting Salary: $40,300Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Bachelor's Degrees
Bachelor of Information Systems
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Human Development and Family Science
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Communication Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Gender and Sexuality Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Psychology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of General Business
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Marketing
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Counseling and Community Psychology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Sociology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #5 Most Affordable Online Colleges Ranked for Students 2024 #3 Best Online Colleges in Utah 2024 #7 Best Online Colleges in Arizona 2024
Online Bachelor's Degrees
BS Business
Concentrations
- Accounting
- Administration
- Communication
- Finance
- Global Business
- Management
- Hospitality
- Management
- Information Systems
- Management
- Marketing
- Public Administration
- Retail Management
- e-Business
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Criminal Justice Administration
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Information Technology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Nursing (RN-to-BSN)
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Organizational Security and Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS IT/Visual Communications
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Human Services/Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in South Dakota 2025 #2 Best Small Colleges in South Dakota 2024 #2 Best Private Colleges in South Dakota 2024 #3 Best Grad Schools in South Dakota 2025
Tuition + fees
$16K
Graduation
33%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at National American University
Cost of Degree: $16,065Starting Salary: $39,500Online Bachelor's Degrees
Bachelor of Accounting
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Paralegal Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Professional Legal Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Information Technology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Healthcare Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Aviation Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Construction Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Cybersecurity and Forensics Emphasis IT
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Energy Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Human Resources Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Intelligence Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Nuclear Enterprise Security Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Strategic Security and Protection Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Small Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #4 Best Colleges in New Mexico 2024
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: $6,738Expenses: $14,178Starting Salary: $34,800Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Bachelor's Degrees
BS/BA Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS/BA Sociology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Electronics Engineering Technology
Concentrations
- Renewable Energy
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Business Administration
Concentrations
- Accounting
- Applied Economics and Finance
- General Business
- Hospitality Management
- Information Systems
- Management
- Marketing
- Personal Financial Planning
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Communicative Disorders
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Nursing
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS/BA History
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS/BA Psychology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Computer Science
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Career and Technical Education
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Physical Education (Sport and Recreation Management)
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Early Childhood Education
Concentrations
- Birth-PreK (Non-Licensure)
- Birth-PreK (Licensure)
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS/BA Communication
Concentrations
- Journalism
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Small Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #6 Best Colleges in New Mexico 2024
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
25%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at New Mexico Highlands University
Cost of Degree: $7,260Expenses: $14,786Starting Salary: $37,800Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Bachelor's Degrees
Bachelor of Business Administration
Concentrations
- Accounting
- General Business
- Finance
- Management
- Marketing
- Media Marketing
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BAS in General Business
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Nursing (RN-to-BSN)
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Health
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Health Education
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Small Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #5 Best Colleges in New Mexico 2024 #5 Best Public Colleges in New Mexico 2024
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
31%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for degree at Western New Mexico University
Cost of Degree: $7,868Expenses: $16,828Starting Salary: $35,800Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Bachelor's Degrees
BS Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Nursing
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS/BA Psychology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Social Work
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS/BA Chemical Dependency Counseling
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Business Administration – Marketing
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Early Childhood Education
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Elementary Education
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA English
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BAS Business
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS/BA History
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS/BA Instructional Technology & Design
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Mathematics
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BAS Rehabilitation Services
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS/BA Secondary Education
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Special Education
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Private Colleges in New Mexico 2024 #4 Best Grad Schools in New Mexico 2025 #5 Best Small Colleges in New Mexico 2025 #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Mexico 2025
Tuition + fees
$17K
Graduation
27%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at University of the Southwest
Cost of Degree: $16,670Starting Salary: $41,000Online Bachelor's Degrees
Bachelor of Business Administration
Concentrations
- Accounting
- E-Commerce
- Energy Management
- Finance
- Global Business Management
- Healthcare Management
- Hospitality Management
- Management
- Marketing
- Nonprofit Management
- Sports Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions
If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.
No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?
If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.
In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.
Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.
Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.
As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.
In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.
Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.
If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).
While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.
The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.
Resources for Online College-Bound Students
Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.