2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in New Mexico
[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for social work students.
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2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in New Mexico
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the social work degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Social Work Schools
San Juan College earned the #1 spot for value among social work schools in New Mexico. Set in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,910, compared with $5,393 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,150 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of San Juan College earn a median of $41,697 early in their careers. Set against $16,150 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Students from in state pay about $8,183 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,633 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Western New Mexico University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Western New Mexico University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Silver City. Students from in state pay about $7,855 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,341. Social Work graduates carry a median of $35,448 in student loans. Early-career social work graduates make about $50,761. Set against $35,448 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 12 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.
