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Kirtland Air Force Base 01Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY 3.0
Colleges in and near Kirtland AFB

The University of New Mexico is 4.2 miles from Kirtland AFB

No college sits inside Kirtland AFB’s boundary, but the University of New Mexico’s campus in Albuquerque, with 18,901 students on campus, is 4.2 miles from the center of town, and Central New Mexico Community College is 4.2 miles away in Albuquerque. About 9% of Kirtland AFB’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Kirtland AFB. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
32,222 students on campus
Nearest college
4.2 mi
University of New Mexico
Residents in college
9%
About the same as NM (6%)
Nearest community college
4.2 mi
Central New Mexico · $2,060 tuition
Nearest public university
4.2 mi
University of New Mexico · $10,140 in-state
Median household income
$85K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Kirtland AFB

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

Two colleges within 4.2 milesUniversity of New Mexico admits 95% of applicants. Together they have 30,494 students on campus.A community college 4.2 miles awayCentral New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque: tuition and fees $2,060 a year for New Mexico residents.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.Students are 9% of residentsAbout the same as New Mexico (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Kirtland AFB

Three private colleges within 5.9 miles, one public college within 4.2 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of New MexicoCentral New MexicoPima Medical Institute-AlbuquerqueKirtland AFB
University or collegeCommunity college
University of New MexicoUniversity or college · Public · 18,901 on campus · 4.2 mi · 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 · 4.2 mi · 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 · 4.4 mi · Albuquerque$21knet price68%graduate$31kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Brookline College-AlbuquerqueUniversity or college · For-profit · 492 on campus · 5.8 mi · Albuquerque$37knet price47%graduate$30kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Carrington College-AlbuquerqueUniversity or college · For-profit · 297 on campus · 5.9 mi · Albuquerque$49knet price65%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Southwestern Indian Polytechnic InstituteCommunity college · Public · 231 on campus · 10.6 mi · 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 $75–110k, where Kirtland AFB’s median household income ($84,884) falls.

Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute10.6 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $12,125 · tuition $1,095$2,850a year
Central New Mexico Community College4.2 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $11,600 · tuition $2,060$8,453a year
University of New Mexico4.2 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $21,259$17,906a year
Brookline College-Albuquerque5.8 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $40,105$38,768a year
Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque4.4 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $28,183—a year
Carrington College-Albuquerque5.9 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $56,412—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 Kirtland AFB: 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 →University of New MexicoCentral New MexicoPima Medical Institute-AlbuquerqueBrookline College-AlbuquerqueCarrington College-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: University of New Mexico (5); Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque (2); Brookline College-Albuquerque (4); Carrington College-Albuquerque (5).

Questions about college near Kirtland AFB

Is Kirtland AFB a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Kirtland AFB residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New Mexico (6). The nearest campus, the University of New Mexico, is 4.2 miles away in Albuquerque.

What colleges are near Kirtland AFB?

Within 15 miles: the University of New Mexico (4.2 miles, 18,901 students on campus), Central New Mexico Community College (4.2 miles, 11,593), Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque (4.4 miles, 708), Brookline College-Albuquerque (5.8 miles, 492), Carrington College-Albuquerque (5.9 miles, 297) and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (10.6 miles, 231).

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

Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, 4.2 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 Kirtland AFB. 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 →