by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in New Mexico, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **9** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 9 graduate schools 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Our analysis found New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology to be the best graduate school in New Mexico. Set in Socorro, NM, New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a public institution. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology graduates 57% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,476, compared with $27,247 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $64,561. Students borrow a median of $18,747 to complete a degree here.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in New Mexico. Set in Albuquerque, NM, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public institution. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates 54% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,983. Typical student debt is $19,738.
You'll be in good company at New Mexico Highlands University, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Las Vegas, NM, New Mexico Highlands University is a public institution. New Mexico Highlands University graduates 27% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,416 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. New Mexico Highlands University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,214. New Mexico Highlands University students take on a median of $18,900 in debt.
A rank of #4 makes New Mexico State University Main Campus one of the top graduate schools in New Mexico. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public school based in Las Cruces, NM. New Mexico State University Main Campus graduates 55% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,860 early in their careers. The median student debt is $19,026.
Out of the 9 graduate schools in New Mexico in this year's ranking, St Johns College New Mexico landed the #5 spot. Located in Santa Fe, NM, St Johns College New Mexico is a private not-for-profit institution. St Johns College New Mexico graduates 55% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,514. Early-career graduates earn a median of $23,029. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Portales, NM, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a public institution. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus graduates 39% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,074 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,054 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,087 early in their careers. The median student debt is $19,277.
University Of The Southwest came in at #7 in this year's ranking. University Of The Southwest is a private not-for-profit school based in Hobbs, NM. University Of The Southwest graduates 17% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,670. University Of The Southwest graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,907. Typical student debt is $26,162.
Western New Mexico University landed the #8 spot in New Mexico this year. Located in Silver City, NM, Western New Mexico University is a public institution. About 26% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,855 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,341. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,366 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $27,425.
Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture is a public school based in Santa Fe, NM. Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture posts a six-year graduation rate of 11%. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,920. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $29,835.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
