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2024 Best Colleges in New Mexico

23 Colleges
$38,218 Avg Salary*
24% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

With 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.

Our analysis looked at 23 schools in New Mexico to determine which ones 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.

Find out more about our ranking methodology.

Custom Rankings

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.

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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!

Top Colleges in New Mexico

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1

University of New Mexico - Main Campus tops this year’s ranking as the best school in New Mexico for overall quality. UNM is a large public school situated in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It awarded 5,902 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,674 during the early years of their career..

Full University of New Mexico - Main Campus Report

2

A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges in New Mexico list means Central New Mexico Community College is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. CNM is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9,303 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

During the early years of their career, graduates from CNM make an average of $33,975 a year.

Read More…

3

Out of the 23 schools in New Mexico that were part of this year’s ranking, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology landed the #3 spot on the list. New Mexico Tech is a public institution located in Socorro, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 345 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from New Mexico Tech is $64,650 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

4
St. John's crest
St. John's College
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Out of the 23 schools in New Mexico that were part of this year’s ranking, St. John’s College landed the #4 spot on the list. St. John’s is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 97 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty rate of 7 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s go into careers with an average salary of $43,203 during the early years of their career.

Full St. John’s College Report

5

A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges in New Mexico list means New Mexico State University - Main Campus is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. NMSU Main Campus is a public institution located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,261 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from NMSU Main Campus make an average of $36,683 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on New Mexico State University - Main Campus

6

Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking. Located in Portales, New Mexico, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,286 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from ENMU - Main Campus go into careers with an average salary of $33,395 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

7
New Mexico Highlands University crest
New Mexico Highlands University
Las Vegas, New Mexico

New Mexico Highlands University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Las Vegas, New Mexico, the small public school handed out 768 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from New Mexico Highlands University is $36,696 during the early years of their career.

Full New Mexico Highlands University Report

8
SJC crest
San Juan College
Farmington, New Mexico

San Juan College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #8. SJC is a public institution located in Farmington, New Mexico. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,255 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from SJC make an average of $32,286 a year.

Read More…

9
Western New Mexico University crest
Western New Mexico University
Silver City, New Mexico

Western New Mexico University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges in New Mexico list. This small public school is located in Silver City, New Mexico, and it awarded 750 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Western New Mexico University go into careers with an average salary of $33,938 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Western New Mexico University

10

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and it awarded 1,318 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from NMSU Dona Ana go into careers with an average salary of $36,683 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

11

New Mexico Military Institute ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges in New Mexico list. NMMI is a small public school situated in Roswell, New Mexico. It awarded 109 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from NMMI make an average of $47,392 a year.

Full New Mexico Military Institute Report

12

Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges in New Mexico list. ENMU - Roswell Campus is a small public school situated in Roswell, New Mexico. It awarded 363 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from ENMU - Roswell Campus make an average of $33,395 a year.

Read More…

13
SFCC crest
Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #13. SFCC is a public institution located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 583 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from SFCC go into careers with an average salary of $36,034 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

14

With a ranking of #14, University of the Southwest did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Mexico list.Hobbs, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 325 students in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from USW make an average of $43,241 a year.

Read More…

15
Clovis Community College crest
Clovis Community College
Clovis, New Mexico

Clovis Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges in New Mexico list. This small public school is located in Clovis, New Mexico, and it awarded 901 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Clovis Community College go into careers with an average salary of $27,732 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Clovis Community College

16
New Mexico Junior College crest
New Mexico Junior College
Hobbs, New Mexico

New Mexico Junior College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking. This small public school is located in Hobbs, New Mexico, and it awarded 314 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from New Mexico Junior College is $33,314 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on New Mexico Junior College

17

With a ranking of #17, University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Mexico list. UNM Gallup is a small public school situated in Gallup, New Mexico. It awarded 266 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,674 during the early years of their career..

Read More…

18

With a ranking of #18, New Mexico State University - Carlsbad did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Mexico list. New Mexico State University - Carlsbad is a small public school located in Carlsbad, New Mexico that handed out 154 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from NMSU Carlsbad make an average of $36,683 a year.

Read full report on New Mexico State University - Carlsbad

19
UNM Taos crest
University of New Mexico - Taos Campus
Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico

With a ranking of #19, University of New Mexico - Taos Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Mexico list. UNM Taos is a small public school situated in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico. It awarded 134 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UNM Taos make an average of $41,674 per year during the early years of their career.

Read More…

20

New Mexico State University - Alamogordo landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking. This small public school is located in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and it awarded 123 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,683 during the early years of their career..

Full New Mexico State University - Alamogordo Report

21

University of New Mexico - Valencia County Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking. Located in Los Lunas, New Mexico, the small public school handed out 110 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from UNM Valencia make an average of $41,674 a year.

Read full report on University of New Mexico - Valencia County Campus

22

University of New Mexico - Los Alamos Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges in New Mexico list. UNM Los Alamos is a public institution located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 51 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UNM Los Alamos is $41,674 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

23
Brookline College - Albuquerque crest
Brookline College - Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Brookline College - Albuquerque landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Mexico ranking.Albuquerque, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 191 students in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Brookline College - Albuquerque go into careers with an average salary of $24,653 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

Best Colleges in the Southwest Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 23 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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