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Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico

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2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico

17 Schools Ranked
$2,590 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$17,771 Avg Student Debt

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

The Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 17 schools in New Mexico to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

New Mexico Junior College

Hobbs, New Mexico
$1,920 Average Tuition & Fees
$12,285 Avg Student Debt

Our 2023 rankings named New Mexico Junior College the best school in New Mexico for students working on their associate degree.

Students from New Mexico who attend New Mexico Junior College full time pay an average of $1,920 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $2,280. On average, associate degree students take out $12,285 in loans while pursuing their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since New Mexico Junior College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 81% took at least some of their classes online.

Full New Mexico Junior College Report

#2

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Las Cruces, New Mexico
$2,160 Average Tuition & Fees
$16,687 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New Mexico State University - Dona Ana. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico list.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NMSU Dona Ana is $2,160. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,664. Associate Degree recipients from NMSU Dona Ana accumulate an average of $16,687 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Online courses are available at NMSU Dona Ana, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 86% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

$2,280 Average Tuition & Fees
$13,956 Avg Student Debt

The excellent associate degree programs at New Mexico State University - Grants helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in New Mexico.

Students from New Mexico who attend NMSU Grants full time pay an average of $2,280 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,104. On average, associate degree students take out $13,956 in loans while pursuing their degree.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at NMSU Grants. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full New Mexico State University - Grants Report

$6,528 Average Tuition & Fees
$12,101 Avg Student Debt

The excellent associate degree programs at Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in New Mexico.

Full-time students from New Mexico pay an average of $6,528 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend ENMU - Main Campus. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,568. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,101 in student loans.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at ENMU - Main Campus. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

$2,424 Average Tuition & Fees
$13,714 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New Mexico State University - Alamogordo. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico list.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NMSU Alamogordo is $2,424. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,376. Associate Degree recipients from NMSU Alamogordo accumulate an average of $13,714 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

NMSU Alamogordo does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 81% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on New Mexico State University - Alamogordo

#6

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
$1,684 Average Tuition & Fees
$13,658 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #6, Central New Mexico Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.

In-state students pay an average of $1,684 in tuition and fees if they attend CNM full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,540. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,658 in student loans.

One thing to take note of is that CNM does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 90% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Central New Mexico Community College

$1,968 Average Tuition & Fees
$16,036 Avg Student Debt

New Mexico State University - Carlsbad did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #7 on the list.

Full-time students from New Mexico pay an average of $1,968 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NMSU Carlsbad. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,008. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,036 in student loans.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at NMSU Carlsbad. During the 2019-2020 year, about 68% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#8

Santa Fe Community College

Santa Fe, New Mexico
$2,505 Average Tuition & Fees
$18,693 Avg Student Debt

Santa Fe Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking.

Students from New Mexico who attend SFCC full time pay an average of $2,505 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,995. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,693 in student loans.

Online courses are available at SFCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 90% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Santa Fe Community College Report

#9

Clovis Community College

Clovis, New Mexico
$1,616 Average Tuition & Fees
$13,448 Avg Student Debt

Clovis Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #9 on the list.

Full-time students from New Mexico pay an average of $1,616 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Clovis Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $2,984. On average, associate degree students take out $13,448 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Clovis Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 63% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#10

University of New Mexico - Taos Campus

Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico
$1,872 Average Tuition & Fees
$15,819 Avg Student Debt

University of New Mexico - Taos Campus landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.

Full-time students from New Mexico pay an average of $1,872 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend UNM Taos. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,752. On average, associate degree students take out $15,819 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Online courses are available at UNM Taos, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 61% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#11

San Juan College

Farmington, New Mexico
$1,618 Average Tuition & Fees
$15,157 Avg Student Debt

San Juan College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico list.

Full-time students from New Mexico pay an average of $1,618 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SJC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,546. On average, associate degree students take out $15,157 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Some students may be able to take online classes at SJC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 84% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full San Juan College Report

$1,878 Average Tuition & Fees
$15,819 Avg Student Debt

University of New Mexico - Valencia County Campus came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UNM Valencia is $1,878. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,130. On average, associate degree students take out $15,819 in loans while pursuing their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UNM Valencia does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 76% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

$1,932 Average Tuition & Fees
$15,819 Avg Student Debt

University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking.

Students from New Mexico who attend UNM Gallup full time pay an average of $1,932 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,708. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,819 in student loans.

UNM Gallup does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#14

Western New Mexico University

Silver City, New Mexico
$6,557 Average Tuition & Fees
$21,180 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #14, Western New Mexico University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.

Full-time students from New Mexico pay an average of $6,557 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Western New Mexico University. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $13,540. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,180 in student loans.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Western New Mexico University. During the 2019-2020 year, about 84% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Western New Mexico University

$2,424 Average Tuition & Fees
$12,101 Avg Student Debt

Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico list.

Full-time students from New Mexico pay an average of $2,424 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend ENMU - Roswell Campus. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,616. On average, associate degree students take out $12,101 in loans while pursuing their degree.

ENMU - Roswell Campus does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 62% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus

$2,076 Average Tuition & Fees
$15,074 Avg Student Debt

University of New Mexico - Los Alamos Campus landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.

In-state students pay an average of $2,076 in tuition and fees if they attend UNM Los Alamos full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,568. On average, associate degree students take out $15,074 in loans while pursuing their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UNM Los Alamos does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 98% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of New Mexico - Los Alamos Campus

#17

Brookline College - Albuquerque

Albuquerque, New Mexico
$16,732 Avg Student Debt

Brookline College - Albuquerque did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #17 on the list.

By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,732 in student loans.

If you are interested in distance education, Brookline College - Albuquerque is an excellent choice, since the school is online.

Read full report on Brookline College - Albuquerque

Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 17 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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).
  • 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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