US CollegesColleges in New Mexico: cost, admission and results
23 degree-granting colleges and universities in New Mexico, with the admission rate, net price, graduation rate and earnings of each. The largest are University of New Mexico-Main Campus (17,244 undergraduates), New Mexico State University-Main Campus (11,946 undergraduates), New Mexico State University-Dona Ana (5,177 undergraduates).
New Mexico at a glance
- Colleges on this site
- 23
- Public / private nonprofit / for-profit
- 17 / 3 / 3
- Median in-state tuition and fees
- $6,400
- Median net price a year
- $6,404
- Median admission rate
- 89%
- Median graduation rate
- 28%
- Median earnings 10 years on
- $44,265
No college in this list matches.
| College | Admission rate | Net price a year | Graduation rate | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookline College-AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque, NM · Private for-profit | not reported | $35,895 | 44% | $37,804 |
| Burrell College of Osteopathic MedicineLas Cruces, NM · Private for-profit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Eastern New Mexico University-Main CampusPortales, NM · Public | 92% | $5,238 | 39% | $44,198 |
| Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts DevelopmentSanta Fe, NM · Public | 97% | $11,199 | 18% | $26,385 |
| New Mexico Highlands UniversityLas Vegas, NM · Public | not reported | $18,315 | 30% | $48,104 |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologySocorro, NM · Public | 44% | $20,862 | 55% | $71,723 |
| New Mexico Junior CollegeHobbs, NM · Public | not reported | $5,665 | 47% | $44,265 |
| New Mexico Military InstituteRoswell, NM · Public | 53% | $3,981 | 46% | $58,629 |
| New Mexico State University-AlamogordoAlamogordo, NM · Public | not reported | $5,370 | 27% | $43,922 |
| New Mexico State University-Dona AnaLas Cruces, NM · Public | not reported | $1,844 | 17% | $43,922 |
| New Mexico State University-Main CampusLas Cruces, NM · Public | 89% | $6,313 | 54% | $43,922 |
| Northern New Mexico CollegeEspanola, NM · Public | not reported | $3,919 | 17% | $43,665 |
| Southeast New Mexico CollegeCarlsbad, NM · Public | not reported | $6,480 | 20% | not reported |
| Southwest University of Naprapathic MedicineSanta Fe, NM · Private for-profit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Southwestern CollegeSanta Fe, NM · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Southwestern Indian Polytechnic InstituteAlbuquerque, NM · Public | not reported | $6,961 | 11% | $32,730 |
| St. John's CollegeSanta Fe, NM · Private nonprofit | 53% | $22,480 | 70% | $45,537 |
| University of New Mexico-Gallup CampusGallup, NM · Public | not reported | $5,766 | 21% | $50,072 |
| University of New Mexico-Los Alamos CampusLos Alamos, NM · Public | not reported | $9,471 | 17% | $50,072 |
| University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerque, NM · Public | 95% | $19,966 | 54% | $50,072 |
| University of New Mexico-Valencia County CampusLos Lunas, NM · Public | not reported | $3,778 | 13% | $50,072 |
| University of the SouthwestHobbs, NM · Private nonprofit | not reported | $17,550 | 19% | $47,669 |
| Western New Mexico UniversitySilver City, NM · Public | not reported | $6,328 | 44% | $41,452 |
"Not reported" means the Department of Education has no figure, often because the college is small, new, or does not take first-time students. Medians are the middle value of the colleges listed here.
The colleges of New Mexico in brief
Of the 23 colleges listed for New Mexico, 17 are public, 3 are private nonprofit and 3 are private for-profit. By level, 10 mainly award bachelor's degrees, 10 mainly award two-year associate degrees and 3 mainly award graduate degrees. Together they teach about 50,044 undergraduates, 97% of them at public colleges. The three largest, University of New Mexico-Main Campus, New Mexico State University-Main Campus and New Mexico State University-Dona Ana, hold 69% of the total, and the middle-sized college has 700 undergraduates. The towns with the most colleges are Santa Fe (4), Albuquerque (3) and Las Cruces (3).
What college costs in New Mexico
At the public colleges, the median published tuition and fees are $6,090 a year for students from New Mexico and $6,360 for students from elsewhere. At the private nonprofit colleges the median is $29,856. Published prices are not what most families pay. Counting colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, the lowest average net price after grants is at New Mexico State University-Dona Ana ($1,844) and University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus ($3,778) and the highest at Brookline College-Albuquerque ($35,895) and St. John's College ($22,480). The median net price across the state, $6,404, is 63% below the national median of $17,357.
Getting in
7 of the 23 colleges report an admission rate. The hardest to get into are New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (44% admitted), New Mexico Military Institute (53% admitted) and St. John's College (53% admitted). 4 of them admit at least seven applicants in ten. 13 colleges have an open admission policy and report no rate: they do not turn applicants away on grades or test scores.
Finishing and earning
Among colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, the highest share of students finishing their course is at St. John's College (70%), New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (55%) and University of New Mexico-Main Campus (54%). The median graduation rate of the state's colleges is 28%, against 49% for the country. Ten years after starting, former students with federal aid earn the most at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology ($71,723), New Mexico Military Institute ($58,629) and University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus ($50,072). The state median for that measure is $44,265, 17% below the national $53,132. Students who finish leave with a median federal loan debt of $15,428 (national median $19,994). Earnings follow the subjects a college teaches as much as its quality, so compare like with like.
Questions about colleges in New Mexico
How many colleges are there in New Mexico?
This site lists 23 open, degree-granting colleges and universities in New Mexico, out of 3,161 on the whole site. Schools that mainly give short certificates are not counted.
What is the largest college in New Mexico?
University of New Mexico-Main Campus in Albuquerque, with about 17,244 undergraduate students.
Which college in New Mexico has the lowest net price?
Among colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, New Mexico State University-Dona Ana: students with federal aid paid an average of $1,844 a year after grants. Students from other states or countries usually pay more.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.