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Albuquerque, New Mexico skylinePhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Albuquerque

Albuquerque is home to six colleges, with about 32,000 students on campus

The University of New Mexico (18,901 students on campus) and Central New Mexico Community College (11,593) are inside the city. About 8% of Albuquerque’s residents are enrolled in college, above New Mexico (6%).

University of New MexicoCentral New Mexico Community College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Albuquerque. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
32,222 students on campus
Nearest college
0.8 mi
Carrington College-Albuquerque
Residents in college
8%
Above NM (6%)
Nearest community college
2.5 mi
Central New Mexico · $2,060 tuition
Nearest public university
2.1 mi
University of New Mexico · $10,140 in-state
Median household income
$68K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Albuquerque

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 2.5 milesUniversity of New Mexico admits 95% of applicants. Together they have 30,494 students on campus.In-state price at University of New MexicoLiving in New Mexico, the University of New Mexico charges $10,140 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $33,060. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 2.5 miles awayCentral New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque: tuition and fees $2,060 a year for New Mexico residents.Students are 8% of residentsAbove New Mexico (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Albuquerque

Three private colleges within 2.9 miles, one public college within 2.1 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of New MexicoCentral New MexicoPima Medical Institute-AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque
University or collegeCommunity college
Carrington College-AlbuquerqueUniversity or college · For-profit · 297 on campus · In Albuquerque$49knet price65%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Brookline College-AlbuquerqueUniversity or college · For-profit · 492 on campus · In Albuquerque$37knet price47%graduate$30kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.University of New MexicoUniversity or college · Public · 18,901 on campus · In Albuquerque95%admitted$15knet price55%graduate$45kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Central New Mexico Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 11,593 on campus · In Albuquerque$5knet price31%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $2,060 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pima Medical Institute-AlbuquerqueUniversity or college · For-profit · 708 on campus · In Albuquerque$21knet price68%graduate$31kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Southwestern Indian Polytechnic InstituteCommunity college · Public · 231 on campus · In Albuquerque$5knet price14%graduate$28kearningsTuition and fees: $1,095 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Albuquerque’s median household income ($68,317) falls.

Central New Mexico Community CollegeIn Albuquerque · sticker $11,600 · tuition $2,060$5,897a year
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic InstituteIn Albuquerque · sticker $12,125 · tuition $1,095$7,418a year
University of New MexicoIn Albuquerque · sticker $21,259$16,196a year
Pima Medical Institute-AlbuquerqueIn Albuquerque · sticker $28,183$18,386a year
Carrington College-AlbuquerqueIn Albuquerque · sticker $56,412$46,239a year
Brookline College-AlbuquerqueIn Albuquerque · sticker $40,105—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Albuquerque: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Carrington College-AlbuquerqueBrookline College-AlbuquerqueUniversity of New MexicoCentral New MexicoPima Medical Institute-Albuquerque
University of New Mexico55% graduate$45k earnings*$18k typical debt
Central New Mexico Community College31% graduate$37k earnings$7k typical debt
Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque68% graduate$31k earnings*$6k typical debt
Brookline College-Albuquerque47% graduate$30k earnings*$10k typical debt
Carrington College-Albuquerque65% graduate$37k earnings*$10k typical debt
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute14% graduate$28k earnings

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Carrington College-Albuquerque (5); Brookline College-Albuquerque (4); University of New Mexico (5); Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque (2).

Majors

What students study in Albuquerque

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Albuquerque’s 6 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 20%Liberal arts 16%Business 13%Psychology 6%Biology 4%Visual & performing arts 3%Everything else 38%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesCentral New Mexico Community College · 871 graduates a year
$38k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity of New Mexico · 441 graduates a year
$62k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of New Mexico · 412 graduates a year
$87k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralUniversity of New Mexico · 376 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCentral New Mexico Community College · 279 graduates a year
$83k4 yrs out
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralCentral New Mexico Community College · 235 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsCentral New Mexico Community College · 215 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity of New Mexico · 185 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Albuquerque

Is Albuquerque a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Albuquerque residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above New Mexico (6). The largest campus in the city, the University of New Mexico, has 18,901 students on campus.

What colleges are in Albuquerque?

The University of New Mexico, Central New Mexico Community College, Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque, Brookline College-Albuquerque and 2 more are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Albuquerque, and what does it cost?

Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, 2.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,060 a year for New Mexico residents; the federal net price, $4,621, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of New Mexico cost if we live in New Mexico?

Tuition and fees are $10,140 a year in-state and $33,060 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,938 (under $30,000 income) to $19,053 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Albuquerque. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →