Best colleges in New Mexico
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in New Mexico11 schools
11 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in New Mexico.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
- 2
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM · Public#2 in New Mexico
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 57% graduate
- 3
Northern New Mexico College
Espanola, NM · PublicTop 2% for low debt
- Value grade A- · Top 16%
- 29% graduate
- 4
- 5
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM · PublicTop 12% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 30%
- 55% graduate
- 6
New Mexico Highlands University
Las Vegas, NM · PublicTop 11% for low debt
- Value grade A- · Top 18%
- 26% graduate
- 7
Brookline College-Albuquerque
Albuquerque, NM · Private for-profitTop 6% for low debt
- Value grade C+
- 47% graduate
- 8
Western New Mexico University
Silver City, NM · PublicTop 11% for low net price
- Value grade B · Top 46%
- 32% graduate
- 9
Eastern New Mexico University
Portales, NM · PublicTop 4% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 30%
- 45% graduate
- 10
University of the Southwest
Hobbs, NM · Private nonprofit#10 in New Mexico
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 17% graduate
- 11
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development
Santa Fe, NM · PublicTop 24% for low net price
- 15% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's College | $26,674 | — | $44,985 | 55% |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | $9,873 | $19,085 | $76,489 | 57% |
| Northern New Mexico College | $7,276 | $6,000 | $38,112 | 29% |
| University of New Mexico | $15,489 | $18,450 | $44,792 | 55% |
| New Mexico State University | $8,889 | $17,095 | $39,067 | 55% |
| New Mexico Highlands University | $14,838 | $11,399 | $45,937 | 26% |
| Brookline College-Albuquerque | $37,459 | $9,500 | $29,576 | 47% |
| Western New Mexico University | $8,522 | $23,000 | $39,095 | 32% |
| Eastern New Mexico University | $4,904 | $16,500 | $38,550 | 45% |
| University of the Southwest | $16,927 | $21,303 | $45,389 | 17% |
| Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development | $12,570 | — | $24,505 | 15% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3