by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in New Mexico, it can be hard to know where to start. We have ranked 38 programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated graduate schools using more than 20 objective factors 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.
Your ideal graduate school depends on your goals. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Looking to pit your favorite graduate schools against each other? Check out College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
No school ranked higher than New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology this year in New Mexico. Located in Socorro, NM, New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,476, while out-of-state students pay about $27,247. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,561. Students borrow a median of $18,747 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at University Of New Mexico Main Campus earned it the #2 place in New Mexico. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public school based in Albuquerque, NM. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,983. University Of New Mexico Main Campus students take on a median of $19,738 in debt.
A rank of #3 makes New Mexico Military Institute one of the top graduate schools in New Mexico. This public school is set in Roswell, NM. Students from in state pay about $7,190 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,156. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $10,627. Typical student debt is $5,500.
A rank of #4 makes New Mexico Highlands University one of the top graduate schools in New Mexico. Set in Las Vegas, NM, New Mexico Highlands University is a public institution. New Mexico Highlands University graduates 27% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,416, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. New Mexico Highlands University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,214. The median student debt is $18,900.
Out of the 38 graduate schools in New Mexico in this year's ranking, San Juan College landed the #5 spot. San Juan College is a public school based in Farmington, NM. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,910, compared with $5,393 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,697. Students borrow a median of $16,150 to complete a degree here.
New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Set in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,860. Typical student debt is $19,026.
Carrington College Albuquerque placed #7 among the best graduate schools in New Mexico. Located in Albuquerque, NM, Carrington College Albuquerque is a private for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $35,740. Graduates carry a median of $13,952 in student loans.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus placed #8 among the best graduate schools in New Mexico. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a public school based in Portales, NM. About 39% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,074 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,054. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,087. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus students take on a median of $19,277 in debt.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in Albuquerque, NM, Central New Mexico Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,751 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans.
Western New Mexico University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Silver City, NM, Western New Mexico University is a public institution. About 26% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,855, while out-of-state students pay about $14,341. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,366. Typical student debt is $27,425.
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Roswell, NM, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,256 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,616. Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $21,129. Graduates carry a median of $11,110 in student loans.
St Johns College New Mexico did well this year, earning the #12 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Santa Fe, NM. St Johns College New Mexico graduates 55% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,514. St Johns College New Mexico graduates report median early-career earnings of $23,029. St Johns College New Mexico students take on a median of $27,000 in debt.
University Of The Southwest came in at #13 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hobbs, NM. Roughly 17% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,670. Median early-career earnings reach $45,907. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete a degree here.
Northern New Mexico College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Espanola, NM, Northern New Mexico College is a public institution. Roughly 31% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,064, with out-of-state students paying around $14,328.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,322, with out-of-state students paying around $6,360. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,399. Students borrow a median of $10,284 to complete a degree here.
University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus landed the #16 spot in New Mexico this year. Located in Gallup, NM, University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,906, compared with $5,682 for out-of-state students. University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $35,132. Students borrow a median of $10,986 to complete a degree here.
University Of New Mexico Taos Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Ranchos de Taos, NM, University Of New Mexico Taos Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,136, while out-of-state students pay about $5,136. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,132 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $10,986.
Santa Fe Community College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Santa Fe Community College is a public school based in Santa Fe, NM. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,851, while out-of-state students pay about $4,131. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,935. Santa Fe Community College students take on a median of $15,267 in debt.
Clovis Community College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Clovis, NM, Clovis Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,592 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $3,344. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,390. Students borrow a median of $11,082 to complete a degree here.
New Mexico Junior College placed #20 among the best graduate schools in New Mexico. Located in Hobbs, NM, New Mexico Junior College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,440 in tuition and fees, compared with $2,280 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,220. The median student debt is $9,986.
Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Located in Ruidoso, NM, Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,372, with out-of-state students paying around $3,268. Median early-career earnings reach $21,129. The median student debt is $11,110.
Mesalands Community College landed the #22 spot in New Mexico this year. Mesalands Community College is a public school based in Tucumcari, NM. In-state tuition and fees run about $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.
University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus landed the #23 spot in New Mexico this year. University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus is a public school based in Los Lunas, NM. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,878, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,132. Graduates carry a median of $10,986 in student loans.
New Mexico State University Alamogordo did well this year, earning the #24 position. Based in Alamogordo, NM, New Mexico State University Alamogordo is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,616, while out-of-state students pay about $6,072. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,582 early in their careers. New Mexico State University Alamogordo students take on a median of $8,872 in debt.
New Mexico State University Grants landed the #25 spot in New Mexico this year. New Mexico State University Grants is a public school based in Grants, NM. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,136, compared with $4,272 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $34,802. Typical student debt is $9,048.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
