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. College Factual has developed its Top New Mexico Colleges ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
We analyzed 24 colleges and universities across New Mexico to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. To come up with this ranking, we look at more than 20 factors that are all objective measurements. These factors include freshman retention, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and post graduate earnings, among other things.
Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University of New Mexico - Main Campus tops this year’s ranking as the best school in New Mexico for overall quality.
The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UNM is $44,792 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central New Mexico Community College. The school came in at #2 in New Mexico on this year’s overall quality ranking.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from CNM make an average of $36,869 a year.
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges in New Mexico list means St. John’s College is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty rate of 8 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,985 during the early years of their career..
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at New Mexico Highlands University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in New Mexico.
During the early years of their career, graduates from New Mexico Highlands University make an average of $45,937 a year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Luna Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2025 Best Colleges in New Mexico list.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Luna Community College is $32,461 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #6, Western New Mexico University did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in New Mexico list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Western New Mexico University make an average of $39,095 a year.
With a ranking of #7, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in New Mexico list.
The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from New Mexico Tech is $76,489 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
New Mexico State University - Dona Ana ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges in New Mexico list.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from NMSU Dona Ana is $39,067 during the early years of their career.
San Juan College did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #9.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from SJC is $36,513 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #10, New Mexico Military Institute did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in New Mexico list.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $57,410 during the early years of their career..
New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #11.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,067 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on New Mexico State University - Main Campus
Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from ENMU - Main Campus go into careers with an average salary of $38,550 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus
With a ranking of #13, University of the Southwest did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in New Mexico list.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from USW is $45,389 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #14, Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in New Mexico list.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from ENMU - Roswell Campus is $38,550 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus
Santa Fe Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges in New Mexico list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from SFCC make an average of $38,005 per year during the early years of their career.
Eastern New Mexico University - Ruidoso Campus ranked #16 on this year’s Best Colleges in New Mexico list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from ENMU - Ruidoso Campus make an average of $38,550 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #17, New Mexico State University - Carlsbad did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in New Mexico list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from NMSU Carlsbad make an average of $39,067 per year during the early years of their career.
Clovis Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #18.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Clovis Community College is $34,020 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #19, University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in New Mexico list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from UNM Gallup make an average of $44,792 a year.
Read full report on University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus
With a ranking of #20, New Mexico Junior College did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in New Mexico list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from New Mexico Junior College make an average of $34,233 a year.
University of New Mexico - Taos Campus ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges in New Mexico list.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UNM Taos go into careers with an average salary of $44,792 during the early years of their career.
University of New Mexico - Los Alamos Campus landed the #22 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UNM Los Alamos make an average of $44,792 per year during the early years of their career.
University of New Mexico - Valencia County Campus ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges in New Mexico list.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UNM Valencia is $44,792 during the early years of their career.
Full University of New Mexico - Valencia County Campus Report
Brookline College - Albuquerque did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #24.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Brookline College - Albuquerque make an average of $29,576 per year during the early years of their career.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 24 schools only.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.