Best Community Colleges in New Mexico of 2023

Based in Albuquerque, NM, Central New Mexico Community College is the top community college in the state. With over 200 academic and career training programs, students can pursue a wide range of interests and careers, including accounting, anthropology, chemistry, geography, and history. Through CNM Online College, working adults can take classes online and earn their degrees or certificates on a flexible schedule. Students can save time and money by earning credit for prior learning, and high school students can take tuition-free dual enrollment courses to start working on their degrees early. Central New Mexico Community College also offers workforce training and adult education courses to help individuals advance their careers and develop in-demand skills.

New Mexico Junior College is a two-year school based in Hobbs, NM. While NMJC already offers affordable tuition, students can get help paying for school by applying for financial aid. The school’s financial aid offerings include foundation scholarships, which students can apply for by submitting transcripts, an essay, and a scholarship application. NMJC offers a wide range of programs, including certificates and associate’s degrees in fields like business, cosmetology, criminal justice, and nursing. The school also offers online programs through Canvas, making it a suitable choice for students that need a flexible learning schedule. Students interested in transferring to a four-year university can complete their associate of arts or associate of science at NMJC before transferring to complete their bachelor’s.

Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari, NM, offers transfer programs, associate’s degrees, and technical certificate programs in agribusiness, animal science, education, social work, geology, and allied health. Students can complete their degrees on campus or online. Online courses are asynchronous, allowing students to complete coursework on their own schedules. Mesalands also offers dual enrollment courses for high school students that want to start working on their degrees before graduating. MCC stands out as a great option for students that want to enhance their college experience by participating in student clubs and organizations, including the astronomy club, gamers club, natural sciences club, and robotics club. The school also offers intramural sports, an on-campus rodeo, school dances, and cultural events that students can participate in throughout the academic year.

Located in Farmington, NM, San Juan College offers exceptional student support services to ensure learners get the most out of their time at the school. The school’s career center offers career search services, workshops and events, and resume-building services. Students can also access counseling services, get help applying for financial aid, and receive assistance with their academic programs. Unlike most community colleges in the area, San Juan College also offers childcare services to full-time students to accommodate parents interested in pursuing post-secondary education. San Juan College’s degree and certificate programs cover a wide range of disciplines, ranging from accounting and chemical engineering to marketing and psychology. Several of the school’s programs are available online, allowing students to learn while working.

Clovis Community College provides affordable certificate and degree programs to students in Clovis, NM. Students can choose from programs in allied health, biology, computer information systems, criminal justice, industrial technology, mathematics, and more. Many of these programs are available online to accommodate working students. CCC offers a wide range of student support services, including tutoring and academic advising. Clovis Community College is the top choice for individuals interested in adult education. The school’s adult education programs include high school equivalency courses, English as a second language (ESL) classes, a language lab, computer classes, naturalization interview prep classes, and work skills training programs to help adults develop in-demand professional skills.

Santa Fe Community College provides affordable degree and certificate programs to more than 15,000 students annually. SFCC is the best community college for veterans as the school offers dedicated counseling, tuition discounts, and scholarships for students that are or were in the military. The school’s programs cover subjects like allied health, creative writing, culinary arts, film, and history, and students can work with an adviser to create a transfer program if they want to pursue a degree at a four-year university. SFCC helps professionals develop in-demand skills through high-quality economic and workforce development courses, and the school’s continuing education courses help adults discover new hobbies and interests, such as drawing, web design, and digital photography.

One of the newest community colleges in New Mexico, the University of New Mexico-Taos offers associate’s degree and certificate programs that cover a wide range of topics, including early childhood education, liberal arts, pre-science, nursing, and culinary arts. Students can also enroll in the core curriculum program to complete general education requirements before transferring to a four-year university. UNM-Taos stands out as an exceptional choice for students who value high-quality tutoring and student support services. Students can participate in small group or one-on-one tutoring sessions through the school’s Center for Academic Success and Achievement. The tutoring sessions include reviewing class material, discussing texts, predicting test questions, and creating study aids. Students can also participate in online tutoring and visit the school’s writing studio for assistance with writing assignments.

The New Mexico Military Institute is the best option for students interested in attending a military junior college. The school enrolls nearly 1,000 cadets at the junior college and high school levels each year and is dedicated to educating, training, and preparing cadets to become leaders able to meet challenging physical demands. NMMI offers a high school and junior college program. The former is designed as a college preparatory course of study, while the latter provides a comprehensive liberal arts and science curriculum. Cadets at NMMI study and train in a military atmosphere, and the school’s curriculum includes English, foreign language, history, sociology, philosophy, and computer science. Students work with mentors for career and academic advising to ensure their curriculum reflects their long-term goals.

Luna Community College in Las Vegas, NM, transfer-focused associate programs and technical certificates are programs designed to help students develop the skills they need to pursue a four-year degree or enter the workforce. LCC offers low tuition rates for residents. To offset their costs, students can apply for financial aid, including scholarships for New Mexico high school students and members of Native American tribes. LCC is a great option for high school students interested in dual enrollment. Students attending eligible high schools can enroll at LCC to earn college credit while still in high school. Students can receive career and technical education, and they can enroll in academic courses like English, history, math, and social sciences. LCC also offers concurrent enrollment, which allows high school students to take college courses without having the courses recorded on their high school transcripts.

The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) is a public tribal college primarily focused on Native American art. They offer degree programs for the following majors: cultural administration, indigenous liberal studies, museum studies, Native American studies, Native American art history, cinematic arts, creative writing, performing arts, and studio arts. IAIA also offers exciting internship opportunities through its partnership with Ascendium, which allows students to earn an income and gain first-hand experience in their field with organizations such as the New Mexico History Museum and Santa Fe Independent Film Festival.

Northern New Mexico College, located in Espanola, New Mexico, offers an intimate campus with only around 600 undergraduate students. This provides a strong student-to-faculty ratio, with small class sizes of, on average, 12-15 students, which ensures every student gets the attention they need. Additionally, Northern New Mexico College is the most affordable four-year college in the state, with an average tuition of around $2500 a semester. While affordability is important, they also provide fantastic learning opportunities alongside this low cost, such as extensive research opportunities through partnership programs and programs such as the Wildfire Science Research in Carson National Forest.