by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a college degree. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top New Mexico Colleges for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
We analyzed 17 colleges and universities across New Mexico to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with an associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue a degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their associate degree. During their time at college, associate degree seekers from schools in New Mexico take out an average of $12,477. The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Associate Degree Schools ranking. Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best schools ranking methodology page.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2025 rankings named Central New Mexico Community College the best school in New Mexico in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. This fairly large public school is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it awarded 3,426 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from CNM make an average of $41,785 per year during the early years of their career.
Out of the 17 associate degree schools in New Mexico that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus is a medium-sized public school located in Portales, New Mexico that handed out 186 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from ENMU - Main Campus go into careers with an average salary of $21,129 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree in New Mexico list means Luna Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. Las Vegas, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 75 students in 2021-2022.
A rank of #4 on our Best Associate Degree in New Mexico list means New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is a great place for students working on their degree. New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is a medium-sized public school located in Las Cruces, New Mexico that handed out 908 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from NMSU Dona Ana make an average of $36,257 a year.
The excellent associate degree programs at San Juan College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in New Mexico. Located in Farmington, New Mexico, the medium-sized public school handed out 595 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $37,700 during the early years of their career.
New Mexico Military Institute ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico list. NMMI is a small public school situated in Roswell, New Mexico. It awarded 127 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $10,627 during the early years of their career.
Western New Mexico University did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #7. Western New Mexico University is located in Silver City, New Mexico and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 141 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking. Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus is a small public school located in Roswell, New Mexico that handed out 171 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from ENMU - Roswell Campus make an average of $21,129 a year.
Read full report on Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus
Santa Fe Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #9. SFCC is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 251 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from SFCC make an average of $66,154 per year during the early years of their career.
Eastern New Mexico University - Ruidoso Campus did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #10. ENMU - Ruidoso Campus is located in Ruidoso, New Mexico and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 50 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from ENMU - Ruidoso Campus make an average of $21,129 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #11, New Mexico State University - Carlsbad did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico list. NMSU Carlsbad is located in Carlsbad, New Mexico and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 130 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from NMSU Carlsbad make an average of $36,257 a year.
Clovis Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking. Clovis, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 292 students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $54,586 during the early years of their career.
University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #13. UNM Gallup is located in Gallup, New Mexico and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 204 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,783 during the early years of their career.
New Mexico Junior College landed the #14 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking. New Mexico Junior College is a small public school located in Hobbs, New Mexico that handed out 298 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from New Mexico Junior College make an average of $44,583 a year.
With a ranking of #15, University of New Mexico - Taos Campus did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico list. Located in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, the small public school awarded 56 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from UNM Taos make an average of $36,783 per year during the early years of their career.
University of New Mexico - Los Alamos Campus did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Los Alamos, New Mexico, the small public school awarded 64 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $23,131 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About University of New Mexico - Los Alamos Campus
University of New Mexico - Valencia County Campus came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking. UNM Valencia is a small public school situated in Los Lunas, New Mexico. It awarded 116 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,783 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About University of New Mexico - Valencia County Campus
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More about our data sources and methodologies.