POPULATION (2021): 2.1 million
CAPITAL: Santa Fe
LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN NEW MEXICO: University of New Mexico
LARGEST PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN NEW MEXICO: University of the Southwest
New Mexico is a large state when it comes to landmass, but population-wise, it is quite small, with only a bit more than 2 million people. As such, the college landscape is pretty limited… but the state landscapes are nearly endless, making New Mexico a great place for college for lovers of the outdoors and exploration. It is also warm year-round in the majority of the state, though the northern areas do experience snow, and even have some ski resorts and other winter activities most outsiders wouldn’t think of when discussing a state that shares a border and a name with Mexico.
As the name would suggest, there is a lot of Latin culture in New Mexico, as well as Native American, making the food, art, and other entertainment unique to the region. The state nickname is “The Land of Enchantment,” and by most accounts, it lives up to its name! Here is a closer look at what you can expect if you go to college in New Mexico.
Universities in New Mexico – 4-Year Colleges and Online
There are no private colleges in New Mexico with more than 2,000 students, and thus, looking at some public anniversaries is a must when deciding where to go to college in New Mexico.
Public Universities in New Mexico
7 public universities offer 4-year degrees, with the University of New Mexico having the largest enrollment at its Albuquerque main campus. New Mexico State, located in Las Cruces, is also very large, with athletics and academic teams competing in top-level national competitions. Here are the other 5 public universities in New Mexico:
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
- New Mexico Highlands University
- Eastern New Mexico University
- Western New Mexico University
- Northern New Mexico College
Private Universities in New Mexico
Most of the private universities in New Mexico are related to either a Native American Tribe or religion, with Brookline College, the University of the Southwest, and the University of Phoenix being the outliers. Navajo Technical University and the Institute of American Indian Arts are both large colleges that serve the American Indian communities in the state.
Community Colleges in New Mexico
Several of the cities in this otherwise-rural state have community colleges offering affordable alternatives to students seeking a postsecondary education. They are located at these places:
- Dona Ana Community College (Las Cruces)
- Santa Fe Community College
- San Juan Community College (Farmington)
- New Mexico Junior College (Hobbs)
Prominent Online Colleges in New Mexico
Given that the vast majority of the state is small towns and deserts, providing online options is a good business move for colleges and universities in New Mexico, and both of the major state schools have fully online degree programs.
Universities in Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque got some national recognition as the home of Walter White and company in the popular TV show Breaking Bad, but it’s also home to most of the state’s colleges and universities, and here are all the ones that offer 4-year degrees:
- Brookline College
- National American University
- Southwest University of Visual Arts
- University of New Mexico
- University of Phoenix-New Mexico
Get to Know New Mexico
The Land of Enchantment is a destination for explorers, hikers, and campers from all across the United States, and several out-of-state students go to New Mexico for that very reason. It’s a great place to free your mind and has nice weather year-round, a good trait for those students who get a little bummed out or demotivated when it’s cold outside.
The cities of Albuquerque and New Mexico have plenty to offer students who do enjoy the city feel, and the food in this region of the United States is unique, just like the art and music.
There are several festivals in the spring and summer, and year-round opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.
| Institution Name | City | State | Website | Degree Levels Offered | Modality | Profit Status (CNTLAFFI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aveda Institute-New Mexico | Albuquerque | NM | www.avedanm.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Avenue Academy, A Cosmetology Institute | Albuquerque | NM | www.theavenueacademy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Brookline College-Albuquerque | Albuquerque | NM | www.brooklinecollege.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine | Las Cruces | NM | bcomnm.org | Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Carrington College-Albuquerque | Albuquerque | NM | carrington.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Central New Mexico Community College | Albuquerque | NM | www.cnm.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Clovis Community College | Clovis | NM | www.clovis.edu | Certificates Associates |
Online | No |
| Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College | Ruidoso | NM | www.ruidoso.enmu.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | Portales | NM | www.enmu.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus | Roswell | NM | www.roswell.enmu.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Glitz School of Cosmetology | Las Cruces | NM | www.glitz.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development | Santa Fe | NM | iaia.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Luna Community College | Las Vegas | NM | www.luna.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Mesalands Community College | Tucumcari | NM | www.mesalands.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| National American University-Albuquerque West | Albuquerque | NM | www.national.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Navajo Technical University | Crownpoint | NM | www.navajotech.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| New Mexico Highlands University | Las Vegas | NM | www.nmhu.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | Socorro | NM | www.nmt.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| New Mexico Junior College | Hobbs | NM | www.nmjc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Online | No |
| New Mexico Military Institute | Roswell | NM | www.nmmi.edu | Associates |
Campus | No |
| New Mexico State University-Alamogordo | Alamogordo | NM | nmsua.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| New Mexico State University-Carlsbad | Carlsbad | NM | carlsbad.nmsu.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| New Mexico State University-Dona Ana | Las Cruces | NM | dacc.nmsu.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| New Mexico State University-Grants | Grants | NM | grants.nmsu.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| New Mexico State University-Main Campus | Las Cruces | NM | www.nmsu.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Northern New Mexico College | Espanola | NM | nnmc.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Olympian Academy of Cosmetology | Alamogordo | NM | www.olympusbeauty.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque | Albuquerque | NM | pmi.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque West | Albuquerque | NM | www.pmi.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| San Juan College | Farmington | NM | www.sanjuancollege.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Santa Fe Community College | Santa Fe | NM | www.sfcc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Southwest Acupuncture College-Santa Fe | Santa Fe | NM | www.acupuncturecollege.edu | Masters |
Campus | No |
| Southwest University of Visual Arts-Albuquerque | Albuquerque | NM | www.suva.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Southwestern College | Santa Fe | NM | www.swc.edu | Masters |
Campus | No |
| Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute | Albuquerque | NM | www.sipi.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| St. John's College | Santa Fe | NM | www.sjc.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Albuquerque | Albuquerque | NM | Abq.toniguy.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Rio Rancho | Rio Rancho | NM | riorancho.toniguy.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Universal Therapeutic Massage Institute | Albuquerque | NM | www.utmi.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus | Gallup | NM | www.gallup.unm.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| University of New Mexico-Los Alamos Campus | Los Alamos | NM | losalamos.unm.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus | Albuquerque | NM | www.unm.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Online | No |
| University of New Mexico-Taos Campus | Ranchos de Taos | NM | taos.unm.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus | Los Lunas | NM | valencia.unm.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| University of Phoenix-New Mexico | Albuquerque | NM | www.phoenix.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| University of the Southwest | Hobbs | NM | www.usw.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Vogue College of Cosmetology-Santa Fe | Santa Fe | NM | vogue.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Western New Mexico University | Silver City | NM | www.wnmu.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |