Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque is 7.7 miles from Sandia Heights
No college sits inside Sandia Heights’ boundary, but Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque’s campus in Albuquerque, with 708 students on campus, is 7.7 miles from the center of town, and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is 9.9 miles away in Albuquerque. About 3% of Sandia Heights’ residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Sandia Heights. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Sandia Heights
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Sandia Heights
Three private colleges within 10.8 miles, one public college within 9.7 miles, and two community colleges.
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. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at Over $110k, where Sandia Heights’ median household income ($143,646) 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 within 15 miles of Sandia Heights: 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: Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque (2); Carrington College-Albuquerque (5); University of New Mexico (5); Brookline College-Albuquerque (4).
Questions about college near Sandia Heights
Is Sandia Heights a college town?
No. About 3 of every 100 Sandia Heights residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below New Mexico (6). The nearest campus, Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque, is 7.7 miles away in Albuquerque.
What colleges are near Sandia Heights?
Within 15 miles: Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque (7.7 miles, 708 students on campus), Carrington College-Albuquerque (9.3 miles, 297), the University of New Mexico (9.7 miles, 18,901), Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (9.9 miles, 231), Central New Mexico Community College (10.6 miles, 11,593) and Brookline College-Albuquerque (10.8 miles, 492).
What is the closest community college to Sandia Heights, and what does it cost?
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, 9.9 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.
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 Sandia Heights. 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 →