2026 Best Value Graduate Degrees Schools in New Mexico
Looking for the best-value Graduate Degrees degree programs in New Mexico? Our ranking highlights 45 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree reviewed 7 schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in New Mexico
Explore the best-value schools below:
Western New Mexico University earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in New Mexico. Western New Mexico University is a public school based in Silver City, NM. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,855, compared with $14,341 for out-of-state students. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $27,425. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,095 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Western New Mexico University
A rank of #2 makes Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus one of the best values in New Mexico. This public school is set in Portales, NM. Students from in state pay about $7,074 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,054. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $19,277 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,550 ten years after entry. Set against $19,277 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%. Get the full Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus report
You'll get strong value at New Mexico State University Main Campus, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $19,026. Median earnings reach $39,067 ten years out. Set against $19,026 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on New Mexico State University Main Campus
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #4 on this year's best-value Graduate Degrees ranking in New Mexico. Based in Albuquerque, NM, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,140, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $19,738. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $44,792. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of New Mexico Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 95%. Read more about University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Out of the 7 schools in New Mexico in this year's value ranking, New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology landed the #5 spot. Set in Socorro, NM, New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,476, while out-of-state students pay about $27,247. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $18,747. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology alumni report median earnings of $76,489 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology admits about 44% of applicants. Get the full New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology report
New Mexico Highlands University offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Las Vegas, NM, New Mexico Highlands University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,416, while out-of-state students pay about $12,336. Graduates carry a median of $18,900 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,937 ten years after entry. Set against $18,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on New Mexico Highlands University
University Of The Southwest placed #7 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in New Mexico. Based in Hobbs, NM, University Of The Southwest is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,670 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,389 ten years after entry. Set against $26,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on University Of The Southwest
Southwestern College Santa Fe placed #8 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in New Mexico. Read more about Southwestern College Santa Fe
Northern New Mexico College came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Northern New Mexico College
University Of New Mexico Taos Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on University Of New Mexico Taos Campus
University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus report
University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus landed the #12 spot for value in New Mexico this year. Read more about University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus
Southwest University Of Naprapathic Medicine ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Southwest University Of Naprapathic Medicine report
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Rio Rancho ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Rio Rancho report
Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque landed the #15 spot for value in New Mexico this year. Read more about Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque
Central New Mexico Community College placed #16 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in New Mexico. Get the full Central New Mexico Community College report
Glitz School Of Cosmetology landed the #17 spot for value in New Mexico this year. Read more about Glitz School Of Cosmetology
Clovis Community College landed the #18 spot for value in New Mexico this year. See the full Clovis Community College profile
A Better U Beauty Barber Academy ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. More on A Better U Beauty Barber Academy
New Mexico Junior College placed #20 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in New Mexico. Get the full New Mexico Junior College report
Carrington College Albuquerque came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. More on Carrington College Albuquerque
Vogue College Of Cosmetology Santa Fe came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. See the full Vogue College Of Cosmetology Santa Fe profile
Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture landed the #23 spot for value in New Mexico this year. See the full Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture profile
Aveda Institute New Mexico offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. See the full Aveda Institute New Mexico profile
Brookline College Albuquerque ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on Brookline College Albuquerque
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in New Mexico
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
St Johns College New Mexico ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about St Johns College New Mexico
New Mexico Military Institute placed #27 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in New Mexico. Read the full report on New Mexico Military Institute
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. More on Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Albuquerque came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. See the full Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Albuquerque profile
Luna Community College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Luna Community College
San Juan College
San Juan College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. More on San Juan College
New Mexico State University Carlsbad came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. See the full New Mexico State University Carlsbad profile
Glitz School Of Cosmetology Santa Fe Campus landed the #33 spot for value in New Mexico this year. See the full Glitz School Of Cosmetology Santa Fe Campus profile
Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus landed the #34 spot for value in New Mexico this year. Read more about Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus
Santa Fe Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Read more about Santa Fe Community College
New Mexico State University Grants ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on New Mexico State University Grants
Avenue Academy A Cosmetology Institute ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. See the full Avenue Academy A Cosmetology Institute profile
Burrell College Of Osteopathic Medicine landed the #38 spot for value in New Mexico this year. Read the full report on Burrell College Of Osteopathic Medicine
University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Read more about University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute placed #40 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in New Mexico. More on Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Mesalands Community College landed the #41 spot for value in New Mexico this year. Get the full Mesalands Community College report
New Mexico State University Dona Ana ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full New Mexico State University Dona Ana report
New Mexico State University Alamogordo came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. See the full New Mexico State University Alamogordo profile
Navajo Technical College placed #44 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in New Mexico. Get the full Navajo Technical College report
Olympian Academy Of Cosmetology Alamogordo offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Olympian Academy Of Cosmetology Alamogordo
More Graduate Degrees Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 7 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 45 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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