College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in New Mexico

16 Colleges in the United States
$13,516 Avg Student Debt
$41,999 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Badge [Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value liberal arts schools.

What’s on this page:

2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in New Mexico

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Liberal Arts Schools

1

New Mexico Military Institute tops our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools in New Mexico. Set in the town of Roswell, New Mexico Military Institute is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,190, with out-of-state students paying around $14,156. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $10,627. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt. New Mexico Military Institute admits about 53% of applicants.

2

Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Ruidoso, Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $1,372 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $3,268. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,110 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus generally make around $21,129. Set against $11,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

3

Clovis Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Clovis Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Clovis. Students from in state pay about $1,592 in tuition and fees, compared with $3,344 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $11,000. Liberal Arts graduates of Clovis Community College earn a median of $18,362 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.

4

Central New Mexico Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $31,097. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

5

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for liberal arts. Set in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,074 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,054. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $16,706. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus generally make around $32,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus admits about 92% of applicants.

6

University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus earned the #6 position for value in liberal arts this year. University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Gallup. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,906, with out-of-state students paying around $5,682. Students borrow a median of $10,084 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $22,417. Set against $10,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

7
San Juan College crest
San Juan College
Farmington, NM

San Juan College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. San Juan College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Farmington. Students from in state pay about $1,910 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,393 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $6,402. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from San Juan College generally make around $17,969. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

8

Northern New Mexico College earned the #8 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Espanola, Northern New Mexico College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,064, compared with $14,328 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,112.

9

University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Los Lunas. Students from in state pay about $1,878 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,084 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $22,417. Set against $10,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

10

New Mexico State University Main Campus earned the #10 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $17,577 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from New Mexico State University Main Campus generally make around $29,718. That is a strong return on a $17,577 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.

11

University Of New Mexico Taos Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the rural area of Ranchos de Taos, University Of New Mexico Taos Campus is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,136, compared with $5,136 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,084 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of New Mexico Taos Campus earn a median of $22,417 early in their careers. Set against $10,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

12

Santa Fe Community College came in at #12 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the rural area of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,851 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,131. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $15,267 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Santa Fe Community College generally make around $51,935. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

13

University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Los Alamos, University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $2,214 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,578 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $10,084 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus generally make around $22,417. That is a strong return on a $10,084 median debt.

14

New Mexico Highlands University landed the #14 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the town of Las Vegas, New Mexico Highlands University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,416, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. Students borrow a median of $28,606 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of New Mexico Highlands University earn a median of $26,461 early in their careers. Set against $28,606 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

15

University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $16,605. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $26,923 early in their careers. Set against $16,605 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.

16

St Johns College New Mexico earned the #16 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the rural area of Santa Fe, St Johns College New Mexico is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,514 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of St Johns College New Mexico earn a median of $23,029 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. St Johns College New Mexico admits about 53% of applicants.

View All Liberal Arts Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options