Community Colleges in New Mexico
New Mexico is host to over 50 accredited colleges and universities that include public universities, private colleges, technical institutes, and community colleges. Specifically, the state on New Mexico Community college system includes nearly 20 schools to its credit. Schools included in this system include one major school and a number of smaller institutions. The largest community college in the state is Central New Mexico Community College with over twenty-five thousand full-time and part-time students enrolled. Other notable community colleges in New Mexico include New Mexico Junior College, Eastern New Mexico University, Santa Fe Community College, and San Juan College.
Top Degrees at New Mexico Community Colleges
Thousands upon thousands of students utilize the New Mexico community college system to upskill, learn a new trade, and earn formal degrees. Two primary paths of study at a community college are the certificate programs and degree pathways. Undergraduate certificates are designed to help provide foundational knowledge and skills in a compressed timeframe. Examples of certificate programs can range from bookkeeping and welding to esthetician and computer systems. Certificates are an educational tool for working professionals to upskill or students looking to enter a field or trade. Degree programs, on the other hand, are typically going to be conferred as an associate’s degree at a community college. Variation on the degree include an Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Fine Arts (AFA), Associate of Applied Science (AAS), or Associate of Science (AS). An associate’s degree can typically be completed in two-years of full time study and will include a broad-based group of courses along with a number of student-driven electives.Why Attend a Community College in New Mexico
Research into the differences between a community college and public college will reveal variations in size, cost, admissions, and academics. Generally, a community college will be smaller than a public college but there are exceptions to this rule. In terms of cost, a community college will often carry a substantially lower tuition rate versus a private or public university. Next, the admission policy of a community college is one of guaranteed admissions. Any qualifying student who applies to a community college in New Mexico will have the ability to access the formal education offered at that institution. Lastly, the academic offerings will vary from 2-year community colleges to 4-year universities. To learn more about the programs offered at the New Mexico community colleges, simply connect to them below or search for colleges near you with our search tools.The following links may provide helpful information about community colleges in New Mexico:
- Eastern New Mexico University (Official Website)
- New Mexico State University System (Official Website)
- University of New Mexico (Official Website)
Community Colleges in Albuquerque
We have ranked the community colleges in the Albuquerque area by the percent of students who either completed their degree or transferred to a 4-year institution. Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, NM ranked as the #1 community college in this area. Visit their official website at http://www.cnm.edu
Central New Mexico Community College Highlights
- Serving students from Albuquerque and surrounding areas
- 34% of students either graduated or transferred to a 4-year college/university
- Tuition & fees are about $1,500 per year for state residents ($7,000 for out of state)
Top Community Colleges in Albuquerque
| Rate | Institution Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 34% | Central New Mexico Community College | Albuquerque, NM |
| 31% | Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute | Albuquerque, NM |
| 20% | University of New Mexico - Valencia Campus | Los Lunas, NM |
Other Community Colleges in New Mexico
The table below lists all the other community colleges in New Mexico that do not belong to any large metropolitan or urban concentrated area. The table also displays the "Rate" column, which is the percent of students completing course work.
| Rate | Institution Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 41% | University of New Mexico - Los Alamos Campus | Los Alamos, NM |
| 39% | Eastern New Mexico University - Ruidoso | Ruidoso, NM |
| 39% | New Mexico Junior College | Hobbs, NM |
| 32% | Mesalands Community College | Tucumcari, NM |
| 32% | Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus | Roswell, NM |
| 31% | Santa Fe Community College | Santa Fe, NM |
| 29% | New Mexico State University - Alamogordo | Alamogordo, NM |
| 28% | Clovis Community College | Clovis, NM |
| 27% | New Mexico State University - Grants | Grants, NM |
| 25% | San Juan College | Farmington, NM |
| 19% | Dona Ana Community College | Las Cruces, NM |
| 19% | Luna Community College | Las Vegas, NM |
| 19% | New Mexico State University - Carlsbad | Carlsbad, NM |
| 16% | University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus | Gallup, NM |
| 10% | University of New Mexico - Taos Campus | Ranchos de Taos, NM |
Notes: Tuition & fee amounts are for both New Mexico in-state residents and out of state students, unless noted otherwise. The tuition information displayed is an estimate, which we calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only. Please contact the respective school for information about the current school year.
Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2015: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.