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2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in New Mexico

15 Colleges
$31,920 Avg Salary*
15% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

When it comes to choosing a college, veterans have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Colleges for Veterans in New Mexico ranking is part of that endeavor.

We analyzed 15 colleges and universities across New Mexico to determine which were the best for veterans and active service members. Our ranking methodology focuses on over 20 different objective factors - such as percentage of costs covered by the GI Bill®, number of GI Bill® recipients at the school, and overall quality - to make this determination.

Get more details on our ranking methodology.

Custom Rankings

Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as online students or returnings adults.

We've created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don't have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Top Colleges for Veterans in New Mexico

See which schools came out on top of our ranking:

#1

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Our analysis found University of New Mexico - Main Campus to be the best school for veterans in New Mexico in this year’s ranking. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the large public school awarded 5,733 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.

According to our most recent data, UNM supports 22,311 students, and 1,019 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 584 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,114. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

In addition to its great veterans ranking, UNM is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Schools in New Mexico list.

Full University of New Mexico - Main Campus Report

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at New Mexico State University - Main Campus helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for veterans in New Mexico. NMSU Main Campus is a public institution located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,218 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Of the 14,227 students enrolled at NMSU Main Campus, 666 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 397 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,902. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 in New Mexico on this year’s best for vets ranking. ENMU - Main Campus is a public institution located in Portales, New Mexico. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,291 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Of the 5,266 students enrolled at ENMU - Main Campus, 224 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 135 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,296. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Read full report on Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus

#4

San Juan College

Farmington, New Mexico

Out of the 15 schools in New Mexico that were part of this year’s ranking, San Juan College landed the #4 spot on the list. Farmington, New Mexico is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 664 students in 2019-2020.

According to our most recent data, SJC supports 5,240 students, and 220 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 160 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,256. SJC does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

Out of the 15 schools in New Mexico that were part of this year’s ranking, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology landed the #5 spot on the list. Socorro, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 386 students in 2019-2020.

Of the 1,686 students enrolled at New Mexico Tech, 44 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 25 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,999.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. New Mexico Tech also took the #2 spot in our Best Schools in New Mexico rankings.

Full New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Report

#6

New Mexico Highlands University

Las Vegas, New Mexico

With a ranking of #6, New Mexico Highlands University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in New Mexico list. New Mexico Highlands University is a public institution located in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 820 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.

According to our most recent data, New Mexico Highlands University supports 2,777 students, and 49 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 15 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,420. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Read full report on New Mexico Highlands University

#7

Western New Mexico University

Silver City, New Mexico

Western New Mexico University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #7. Silver City, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 581 students in 2019-2020.

Of the 2,896 students enrolled at Western New Mexico University, 115 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 60 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,543. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Western New Mexico University did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Schools in New Mexico list.

Read full report on Western New Mexico University

#8

Santa Fe Community College

Santa Fe, New Mexico

With a ranking of #8, Santa Fe Community College did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in New Mexico list. This small public school is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and it awarded 265 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.

According to our most recent data, SFCC supports 3,459 students, and 69 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 45 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,251. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Full Santa Fe Community College Report

Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #9. ENMU - Roswell Campus is a small public school situated in Roswell, New Mexico. It awarded 183 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Of the 1,698 students enrolled at ENMU - Roswell Campus, 46 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 32 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,872. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Full Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus Report

#10

New Mexico State University - Alamogordo

Alamogordo, New Mexico

New Mexico State University - Alamogordo did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #10. NMSU Alamogordo is located in Alamogordo, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 104 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.

Of the 941 students enrolled at NMSU Alamogordo, 128 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 96 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,009. NMSU Alamogordo does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full New Mexico State University - Alamogordo Report

#11

University of the Southwest

Hobbs, New Mexico

With a ranking of #11, University of the Southwest did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in New Mexico list. University of the Southwest is a small private not-for-profit school located in Hobbs, New Mexico that handed out 305 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Among the 904 students enrolled at USW, 32 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 21 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,378. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

In addition to its best for vets ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, USW is ranked #5 for overall quality in New Mexico.

Full University of the Southwest Report

#12

Brookline College - Albuquerque

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Brookline College - Albuquerque did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in New Mexico ranking, coming in at #12. Brookline College - Albuquerque is a small private for-profit school situated in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It awarded 101 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Our most recent data shows that 31 of the 608 students enrolled at Brookline College - Albuquerque were GI Bill® students, of which 14 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $11,587. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read More…

Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in New Mexico ranking. Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development is a small public school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico that handed out 77 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Of the 693 students enrolled at Institute of American Indian Arts, 6 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 2 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,563. Institute of American Indian Arts does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read More…

#14

St. John's College

Santa Fe, New Mexico

With a ranking of #14, St. John’s College did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in New Mexico list. St. John’s is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 109 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.

Of the 355 students enrolled at St. John’s, 9 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 4 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $22,305. During this same period, 3 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. St. John’s also took the #4 spot in our Best Schools in New Mexico rankings.

Full St. John’s College Report

#15

Northern New Mexico College

Espanola, New Mexico

Northern New Mexico College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in New Mexico ranking. Located in Espanola, New Mexico, the small public school handed out 148 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.

According to our most recent data, Northern New Mexico College supports 1,234 students, and 29 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 18 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,187.

Read full report on Northern New Mexico College

Best Colleges for Veterans in the Southwest Region

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Best Colleges in the Southwest Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top 15 schools only.

**GI Bill® student total includes all chapters of the GI Bill® program (e.g., Post-9/11, Montgomery GI Bill, Reserve Education Assistance Program, and Veteran Readiness and Employment)

References

  • 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).
  • Veteran-specific data can be found at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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