- Avg net price
- $68
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $248
- Median debt
- $17,095
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,960
- Enrollment
- 754
State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard
Cheapest Colleges in New Mexico
New Mexico's median net price sits 48% below the national Scorecard median; New Mexico State University-Grants leads the 39-school list at $68.
- $68
- Cheapest net price
- $8,889
- New Mexico median
- 39
- Schools ranked
New Mexico State University-Grants has the lowest average net price in New Mexico among Scorecard reporters
According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, New Mexico State University-Grants posts the lowest average net price in New Mexico at $68 among 39 ranked schools, with the state median 48% below the $17,124 national median. Net price is what students paid after grant aid, not sticker tuition, and can reflect a narrow enrollment mix at specialty schools.
Data source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Cheapest net price
- $68
- New Mexico median
- $8,889
- Schools ranked
- 39
- National median
- $17,124
Data updated August 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage
The list in one line
New Mexico State University-Grants has the lowest average net price in New Mexico at $68/year, and the state's median net price is 48% below the $17,124 national median across 4,965 schools.
- $68
- cheapest ranked net price
- $8,889
- New Mexico median net price
- 28 public / 11 private
- schools in this ranking
- $10,313
- avg net price, <$30K income families
Average net price blends every income bracket; families under $30k average $10,313 here. Loans are excluded, open a school profile for the bracket table before treating one average as a personal cost.
Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at St. John's College, where in-state published tuition of $40,504 falls to an average net price of $26,674 after aid, a $13,830 gap, the widest sticker-to-net gap among ranked New Mexico schools.
This New Mexico ranking is mostly public (28 of 39); private campuses (11) still appear when their Scorecard net price clears the reporting bar.
The bar to make this top-25 list is $12,570. Here is where that cutoff sits among all 39 Scorecard-reporting New Mexico schools:
The bar to make New Mexico's top-25 cheapest list
Average net price after aid · 39 Scorecard-reporting schools
$12,570 more affordable than 36% of 39 New Mexico colleges
Show national distribution
Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more New Mexico colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · 2022–23
New Mexico's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price
- Avg net price
- $2,042
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $736
- Median debt
- $16,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $33,619
- Enrollment
- 773
- Avg net price
- $3,230
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,226
- Median debt
- $7,250
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $30,567
- Enrollment
- 2,342
- Avg net price
- $3,645
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,982
- Median debt
- $16,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $33,619
- Enrollment
- 2,082
- Avg net price
- $4,571
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,772
- Median debt
- $5,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $43,034
- Enrollment
- 463
- Avg net price
- $4,595
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $3,393
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $29,547
- Enrollment
- 743
- Avg net price
- $4,621
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,975
- Median debt
- $6,612
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,460
- Enrollment
- 19,342
- Avg net price
- $4,868
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $4,197
- Median debt
- $18,450
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $37,150
- Enrollment
- 1,687
- Avg net price
- $4,904
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $3,663
- Median debt
- $16,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $33,619
- Enrollment
- 5,725
- Avg net price
- $5,181
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $4,302
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $22,307
- Enrollment
- 215
- Avg net price
- $5,338
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $4,293
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $23,280
- Enrollment
- 1,704
- Avg net price
- $5,714
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $3,797
- Median debt
- $18,450
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $37,150
- Enrollment
- 921
- Avg net price
- $5,734
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $5,147
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- -
- Enrollment
- 1,431
- Avg net price
- $5,769
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $5,647
- Median debt
- $9,750
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $29,329
- Enrollment
- 6,452
- Avg net price
- $6,048
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $5,475
- Median debt
- $17,095
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,960
- Enrollment
- 7,200
- Avg net price
- $6,524
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $6,000
- Median debt
- $11,313
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,145
- Enrollment
- 2,235
- Avg net price
- $7,276
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,187
- Median debt
- $6,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $34,377
- Enrollment
- 1,425
- Avg net price
- $7,369
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $6,714
- Median debt
- $17,095
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,960
- Enrollment
- 1,152
- Avg net price
- $8,522
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,381
- Median debt
- $23,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $31,166
- Enrollment
- 3,531
- Avg net price
- $8,889
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $6,648
- Median debt
- $17,095
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,960
- Enrollment
- 15,408
- Avg net price
- $9,165
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,480
- Median debt
- $18,450
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $37,150
- Enrollment
- 896
- Avg net price
- $9,445
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $9,778
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $27,639
- Enrollment
- 563
- Avg net price
- $9,873
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $5,136
- Median debt
- $19,085
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $54,530
- Enrollment
- 1,622
- Avg net price
- $11,067
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $10,145
- Median debt
- $13,236
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,097
- Enrollment
- 4,469
- Avg net price
- $12,570
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $10,974
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $20,816
- Enrollment
- 947
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico State University-GrantsGrants, NM · Public | $68100% of the leader · rank #1 | $248 | $17,095 | $32,960 | 754 |
| 2 | Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community CollegeRuidoso, NM · Public | $2,04296% of the leader · rank #2 | $736 | $16,500 | $33,619 | 773 |
| 3 | Clovis Community CollegeClovis, NM · Public | $3,23093% of the leader · rank #3 | $2,226 | $7,250 | $30,567 | 2,342 |
| 4 | Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell CampusRoswell, NM · Public | $3,64593% of the leader · rank #4 | $2,982 | $16,500 | $33,619 | 2,082 |
| 5 | New Mexico Military InstituteRoswell, NM · Public | $4,57191% of the leader · rank #5 | $2,772 | $5,500 | $43,034 | 463 |
| 6 | Luna Community CollegeLas Vegas, NM · Public | $4,59591% of the leader · rank #6 | $3,393 | - | $29,547 | 743 |
| 7 | Central New Mexico Community CollegeAlbuquerque, NM · Public | $4,62191% of the leader · rank #7 | $2,975 | $6,612 | $32,460 | 19,342 |
| 8 | University of New Mexico-Gallup CampusGallup, NM · Public | $4,86890% of the leader · rank #8 | $4,197 | $18,450 | $37,150 | 1,687 |
| 9 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main CampusPortales, NM · Public | $4,90490% of the leader · rank #9 | $3,663 | $16,500 | $33,619 | 5,725 |
| 10 | Southwestern Indian Polytechnic InstituteAlbuquerque, NM · Public | $5,18189% of the leader · rank #10 | $4,302 | - | $22,307 | 215 |
| 11 | Navajo Technical UniversityCrownpoint, NM · Public | $5,33889% of the leader · rank #11 | $4,293 | - | $23,280 | 1,704 |
| 12 | University of New Mexico-Valencia County CampusLos Lunas, NM · Public | $5,71488% of the leader · rank #12 | $3,797 | $18,450 | $37,150 | 921 |
| 13 | Southeast New Mexico CollegeCarlsbad, NM · Public | $5,73488% of the leader · rank #13 | $5,147 | - | - | 1,431 |
| 14 | San Juan CollegeFarmington, NM · Public | $5,76988% of the leader · rank #14 | $5,647 | $9,750 | $29,329 | 6,452 |
| 15 | New Mexico State University-Dona AnaLas Cruces, NM · Public | $6,04888% of the leader · rank #15 | $5,475 | $17,095 | $32,960 | 7,200 |
| 16 | New Mexico Junior CollegeHobbs, NM · Public | $6,52487% of the leader · rank #16 | $6,000 | $11,313 | $32,145 | 2,235 |
| 17 | Northern New Mexico CollegeEspanola, NM · Public | $7,27685% of the leader · rank #17 | $7,187 | $6,000 | $34,377 | 1,425 |
| 18 | New Mexico State University-AlamogordoAlamogordo, NM · Public | $7,36985% of the leader · rank #18 | $6,714 | $17,095 | $32,960 | 1,152 |
| 19 | Western New Mexico UniversitySilver City, NM · Public | $8,52283% of the leader · rank #19 | $8,381 | $23,000 | $31,166 | 3,531 |
| 20 | New Mexico State University-Main CampusLas Cruces, NM · Public | $8,88982% of the leader · rank #20 | $6,648 | $17,095 | $32,960 | 15,408 |
| 21 | University of New Mexico-Taos CampusRanchos De Taos, NM · Public | $9,16581% of the leader · rank #21 | $8,480 | $18,450 | $37,150 | 896 |
| 22 | Mesalands Community CollegeTucumcari, NM · Public | $9,44581% of the leader · rank #22 | $9,778 | - | $27,639 | 563 |
| 23 | New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologySocorro, NM · Public | $9,87380% of the leader · rank #23 | $5,136 | $19,085 | $54,530 | 1,622 |
| 24 | Santa Fe Community CollegeSanta Fe, NM · Public | $11,06777% of the leader · rank #24 | $10,145 | $13,236 | $32,097 | 4,469 |
| 25 | Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts DevelopmentSanta Fe, NM · Public | $12,57074% of the leader · rank #25 | $10,974 | - | $20,816 | 947 |
Showing the 25 cheapest of 39 Scorecard-reporting New Mexico schools. The remaining 14 are ranked in the same net-price order but omitted from this HTML table so the page stays crawlable.
Look up any institution's exact rank via My School Profile, or open its school page for income-bracket net price, debt, and earnings.
What this means for you
Use New Mexico's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.
- New Mexico State University-Grants reports the lowest average net price in New Mexico, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View New Mexico State
- See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
- Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. New Mexico safety
Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.
Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. This page lists the 25 cheapest; the title count is the full Scorecard-reporting cohort for New Mexico. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.