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City Hall Rio Rancho New MexicoPhoto: AllenS · Public domain
Colleges in and near Rio Rancho

Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is 7.8 miles from Rio Rancho

No college sits inside Rio Rancho’s boundary, but Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute’s campus in Albuquerque, with 231 students on campus, is 7.8 miles from the center of town. About 6% of Rio Rancho’s 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 Rio Rancho. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
20,629 students on campus
Nearest college
7.8 mi
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Residents in college
6%
About the same as NM (6%)
Nearest community college
7.8 mi
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute · $1,095 tuition
Nearest public university
14.6 mi
University of New Mexico · $10,140 in-state
Median household income
$90K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Rio Rancho

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

A community college 7.8 miles awaySouthwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute has 231 students on campus in Albuquerque, 14% of whom graduate within three years.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 6% 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 Rio Rancho

Three private colleges within 13.8 miles, one public college within 14.6 miles, and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute 7.8 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of New MexicoPima Medical Institute-AlbuquerqueBrookline College-AlbuquerqueRio Rancho
University or collegeCommunity college
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic InstituteCommunity college · Public · 231 on campus · 7.8 mi · Albuquerque$5knet price14%graduate$28kearningsTuition and fees: $1,095 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Carrington College-AlbuquerqueUniversity or college · For-profit · 297 on campus · 12.6 mi · Albuquerque$49knet price65%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Pima Medical Institute-AlbuquerqueUniversity or college · For-profit · 708 on campus · 13.8 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 · 13.8 mi · 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 · 14.6 mi · Albuquerque95%admitted$15knet price55%graduate$45kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.

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 Rio Rancho’s median household income ($89,596) falls.

Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute7.8 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $12,125 · tuition $1,095$2,850a year
University of New Mexico14.6 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $21,259$17,906a year
Brookline College-Albuquerque13.8 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $40,105$38,768a year
Carrington College-Albuquerque12.6 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $56,412—a year
Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque13.8 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $28,183—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 Rio Rancho: 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-AlbuquerquePima Medical Institute-AlbuquerqueBrookline College-AlbuquerqueUniversity of New Mexico
University of New Mexico55% graduate$45k earnings*$18k 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); Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque (2); Brookline College-Albuquerque (4); University of New Mexico (5).

Questions about college near Rio Rancho

Is Rio Rancho a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Rio Rancho residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New Mexico (6). The nearest campus, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, is 7.8 miles away in Albuquerque.

What colleges are near Rio Rancho?

Within 15 miles: Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (7.8 miles, 231 students on campus), Carrington College-Albuquerque (12.6 miles, 297), Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque (13.8 miles, 708), Brookline College-Albuquerque (13.8 miles, 492) and the University of New Mexico (14.6 miles, 18,901).

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

Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, 7.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,095 a year for New Mexico residents; the federal net price, $5,181, 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 Rio Rancho. 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 →