by our College Data Analytics TeamNew Mexico Military Institute ranks #1 of 25 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in New Mexico ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 24% six-year graduation rate and $46,008 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in New Mexico, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **25** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 25 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
New Mexico Military Institute leads the 25 ranked colleges in New Mexico, followed by Central New Mexico Community College (#2) and San Juan College (#3). Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Our analysis found New Mexico Military Institute to be the best college in New Mexico. Located in Roswell, NM, New Mexico Military Institute is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,190, with out-of-state students paying around $14,156. Graduates go on to earn a median of $10,627 early in their careers. The median student debt is $5,500.
A rank of #2 makes Central New Mexico Community College one of the top colleges in New Mexico. Central New Mexico Community College is a public school based in Albuquerque, NM. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Central New Mexico Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $34,751. Central New Mexico Community College students take on a median of $10,112 in debt.
Out of the 25 colleges in New Mexico in this year's ranking, San Juan College landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Farmington, NM. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,910, compared with $5,393 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,697. The median student debt is $16,150.
The strong outcomes at Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earned it the #4 place in New Mexico. Located in Portales, NM, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a public institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $7,074, with out-of-state students paying around $9,054. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,087. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus students take on a median of $19,277 in debt.
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in New Mexico. Located in Roswell, NM, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,256, compared with $5,616 for out-of-state students. Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $21,129. Students borrow a median of $11,110 to complete a degree here.
Northern New Mexico College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Espanola, NM. The six-year graduation rate is 31%. In-state tuition and fees average $5,064, while out-of-state students pay about $14,328.
Western New Mexico University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Western New Mexico University is a public school based in Silver City, NM. The six-year graduation rate is 26%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,855, with out-of-state students paying around $14,341. Median early-career earnings reach $48,366. Students borrow a median of $27,425 to complete a degree here.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana landed the #8 spot in New Mexico this year. This public school is set in Las Cruces, NM. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,322, compared with $6,360 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $39,399. Graduates carry a median of $10,284 in student loans.
Carrington College Albuquerque ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Albuquerque, NM, Carrington College Albuquerque is a private for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,740 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,952 to complete a degree here.
Mesalands Community College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Tucumcari, NM, Mesalands Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $3,408. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,517 early in their careers.
New Mexico Junior College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Hobbs, NM. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,440, with out-of-state students paying around $2,280. Median early-career earnings reach $50,220. Graduates carry a median of $9,986 in student loans.
University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Gallup, NM, University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,906 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,682. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,132. Students borrow a median of $10,986 to complete a degree here.
Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Ruidoso, NM, Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,372, compared with $3,268 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $21,129. Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus students take on a median of $11,110 in debt.
Santa Fe Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Santa Fe Community College is a public school based in Santa Fe, NM. In-state tuition and fees average $1,851, while out-of-state students pay about $4,131. Santa Fe Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,935. Students borrow a median of $15,267 to complete a degree here.
University Of New Mexico Taos Campus ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Ranchos de Taos, NM. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,136, compared with $5,136 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $35,132. University Of New Mexico Taos Campus students take on a median of $10,986 in debt.
Clovis Community College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Located in Clovis, NM, Clovis Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,592, compared with $3,344 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,390 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $11,082.
University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus landed the #17 spot in New Mexico this year. Set in Los Lunas, NM, University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,878, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,132. Typical student debt is $10,986.
New Mexico State University Grants placed #18 among the best colleges in New Mexico. New Mexico State University Grants is a public school based in Grants, NM. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $4,272. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $34,802. Typical student debt is $9,048.
New Mexico State University Alamogordo ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. New Mexico State University Alamogordo is a public school based in Alamogordo, NM. Students from in state pay about $2,616 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,072. New Mexico State University Alamogordo graduates report median early-career earnings of $35,582. New Mexico State University Alamogordo students take on a median of $8,872 in debt.
University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in Los Alamos, NM, University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,214 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,578 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $22,920. University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus students take on a median of $10,711 in debt.
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Located in Albuquerque, NM, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,095.
Luna Community College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Based in Las Vegas, NM, Luna Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,474 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $3,418. Early-career graduates earn a median of $32,091.
Navajo Technical College placed #23 among the best colleges in New Mexico. Located in Crownpoint, NM, Navajo Technical College is a public institution. Navajo Technical College graduates 18% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $2,498.
Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque did well this year, earning the #24 position. This private for-profit school is set in Albuquerque, NM. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,003 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $17,195 in student loans.
Brookline College Albuquerque placed #25 among the best colleges in New Mexico. Brookline College Albuquerque is a private for-profit school based in Albuquerque, NM. About 9% of students finish within six years. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,088 early in their careers. Brookline College Albuquerque students take on a median of $23,270 in debt.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.