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# Most Affordable Colleges in New Mexico (2026)

Updated October 1, 2026

Most Affordable Colleges in New Mexico lists 9 four-year institutions in New Mexico. Schools are ordered by their average net price for families earning under $30,000, lowest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page.

Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus ranks 1st on this list, with an average annual net price of $3,663 for families earning under $30,000. Across the listed schools, the average annual net price for families earning under $30,000 ranges from $3,663 to $16,014, with a median of $10,974.

Public institutions account for 7 of the 9 schools, or 78% of the list. Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus posts the lowest average net price at $4,904.

University of New Mexico-Main Campus ranks 150th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.

## The ranked list

9 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years after completion | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus · Portales, NM | $54,827 | $4,904 | $3,663 | 91.7% |
|  | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus reports an average net price of $3,663 for families earning under $30,000, the lowest figure on this list. |
| 2 | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology · Socorro, NM | $85,232 | $9,873 | $5,136 | 44.5% |
|  | [New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology](/school/new-mexico-institute-of-mining-and-technology/majors/) posts a [six-year completion rate of 57%](/school/new-mexico-institute-of-mining-and-technology/outcomes/), the strongest on the page, and admits 44% of applicants. |
| 3 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus · Las Cruces, NM | $54,874 | $8,889 | $6,648 | 89.0% |
|  | Graduates of [New Mexico State University-Main Campus](/school/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/majors/) earn a [median of $54,874](/school/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/outcomes/) four years after completing, and the school admits 89% of applicants. |
| 4 | Western New Mexico University · Silver City, NM | $54,074 | $8,522 | $8,381 | Not reported |
|  | Western New Mexico University ranks 4th on this list, with an average net price of $8,381 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 5 | Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development · Santa Fe, NM | $37,813 | $12,570 | $10,974 | 97.5% |
|  | With an admission rate of 97%, Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development is the most open school on the page and reports a six-year completion rate of 15%. |
| 6 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque, NM | $59,818 | $15,489 | $11,938 | 95.2% |
|  | [University of New Mexico-Main Campus](/school/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus/majors/) holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank on the list, placing 150th among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 7 | New Mexico Highlands University · Las Vegas, NM | $55,864 | $14,838 | $13,511 | Not reported |
|  | New Mexico Highlands University reports median earnings of $55,864 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 8 | University of the Southwest · Hobbs, NM | $51,952 | $16,927 | $15,384 | Not reported |
|  | A private nonprofit institution in Hobbs, University of the Southwest shows an average net price of $15,384 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 9 | St. John's College · Santa Fe, NM | $37,727 | $26,674 | $16,014 | 53.2% |
|  | St. John's College admits 53% of applicants and its graduates earn a median of $37,727 four years after completing. |

## How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by their average net price for families earning under $30,000, lowest first, as set out on [Azimuth's methodology page](/methodology/#ranked-lists). The earnings figures are median earnings for federally aided completers across all fields who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. The list does not measure earnings or selectivity, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology are separated by $1,473 for families earning under $30,000. The spread from top to bottom on this list is $12,351 for families earning under $30,000.