2026 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in New Mexico
[Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong social sciences education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for social sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in New Mexico
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the social sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Social Sciences Schools
Central New Mexico Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools in New Mexico. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $28,987 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earned it the #2 place for social sciences. Set in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,074, with out-of-state students paying around $9,054. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $29,167. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus admits about 92% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New Mexico State University Main Campus earned it the #3 place for social sciences. 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. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $22,860. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $24,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $20,382. Social Sciences graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $41,682 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,382 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
More Social Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
