Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0Hobbs is home to two colleges, with 2,130 students on campus
New Mexico Junior College (1,840 students on campus) and the University of the Southwest (290) are inside the city. About 6% of Hobbs’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Mexico (6%).
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 Hobbs. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Hobbs
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Hobbs
One private college within 3.4 miles, and New Mexico Junior College 2.3 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, New Mexico State University, is 211.5 miles away.
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 would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Hobbs’ median household income ($64,021) falls.
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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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: New Mexico State (4).
What students study in Hobbs
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at New Mexico Junior College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
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. Left out: University of the Southwest, where most students study only online.
Questions about college in Hobbs
Is Hobbs a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Hobbs residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New Mexico (6). The largest campus in the city, New Mexico Junior College, has 1,840 students on campus.
What colleges are in Hobbs?
New Mexico Junior College and the University of the Southwest are inside the city.
What is the closest community college to Hobbs, and what does it cost?
New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, 2.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,440 a year for New Mexico residents; the federal net price, $6,524, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does New Mexico State University cost if we live in New Mexico?
Tuition and fees are $8,183 a year in-state and $25,307 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,648 (under $30,000 income) to $14,049 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 Hobbs. 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 →