Best Online Colleges in New Mexico 2024

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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

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  1. University of New Mexico
  2. New Mexico State University
  3. University of Phoenix
  4. National American University
  5. Eastern New Mexico University
  6. New Mexico Highlands University
  7. Western New Mexico University
  8. University of the Southwest
  1. University of New Mexico
  2. New Mexico State University
  3. University of Phoenix
  4. Eastern New Mexico University
  5. New Mexico Highlands University
  6. Western New Mexico University
  7. National American University
  8. University of the Southwest
  1. University of New Mexico 96%
  2. New Mexico State University 78%
  3. Eastern New Mexico University 28%
  1. University of the Southwest 19 to 1
  2. University of New Mexico 17 to 1
  3. New Mexico State University 16 to 1
  4. Eastern New Mexico University 16 to 1
  5. Western New Mexico University 11 to 1
  6. New Mexico Highlands University 10 to 1
  7. National American University 6 to 1
  1. University of the Southwest $17,200
  2. National American University $16,065
  3. University of New Mexico $6,803
  4. New Mexico State University $6,283
  5. New Mexico Highlands University $4,782
  6. Western New Mexico University $4,770
  7. Eastern New Mexico University $4,194
  1. University of the Southwest $22,500
  2. National American University $15,750
  3. University of New Mexico $6,287
  4. Eastern New Mexico University $5,454
  5. New Mexico State University $5,184
  6. New Mexico Highlands University $4,109
  7. Western New Mexico University $3,843
  1. University of the Southwest
  2. Western New Mexico University
  3. New Mexico Highlands University
  4. Eastern New Mexico University
  5. National American University
  6. University of Phoenix
  7. New Mexico State University
  8. University of New Mexico
  1. University of the Southwest
  2. National American University
  3. Western New Mexico University
  4. New Mexico Highlands University
  5. Eastern New Mexico University
  6. University of Phoenix
  7. New Mexico State University
  8. University of New Mexico
  1. Eastern New Mexico University 28%
  2. New Mexico State University 78%
  3. University of New Mexico 96%
  1. National American University 6 to 1
  2. New Mexico Highlands University 10 to 1
  3. Western New Mexico University 11 to 1
  4. New Mexico State University 16 to 1
  5. Eastern New Mexico University 16 to 1
  6. University of New Mexico 17 to 1
  7. University of the Southwest 19 to 1
  1. Eastern New Mexico University $4,194
  2. Western New Mexico University $4,770
  3. New Mexico Highlands University $4,782
  4. New Mexico State University $6,283
  5. University of New Mexico $6,803
  6. National American University $16,065
  7. University of the Southwest $17,200
  1. Western New Mexico University $3,843
  2. New Mexico Highlands University $4,109
  3. New Mexico State University $5,184
  4. Eastern New Mexico University $5,454
  5. University of New Mexico $6,287
  6. National American University $15,750
  7. 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?

New Mexico’s Best Overall

Best Online Colleges in New Mexico
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Best Online Colleges in New Mexico 2023

  1. #1

    University of New Mexico

    Albuquerque , NM
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    96%

    Graduation

    52%

    Student body

    24K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of New Mexico

    Cost of Degree: $8,115
    Expenses: $17,920
    Starting Salary: $43,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online 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. Other Rankings

    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: $8,147
    Expenses: $17,964
    Starting Salary: $40,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online 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
  3. 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
  4. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $16K

    Graduation

    33%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at National American University

    Cost of Degree: $16,065
    Starting Salary: $39,500

    Online 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
  5. 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

    Online 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
  6. 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

    Online 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
  7. 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

    Online 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
  8. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $17K

    Graduation

    27%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of the Southwest

    Cost of Degree: $16,670
    Starting Salary: $41,000

    Online 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

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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.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here