Photo: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0Santa Fe Community College is 4 miles from Santa Fe
St. John's College (409 students on campus) is inside the city, and Santa Fe Community College (2,161) is 4 miles from the center, in Santa Fe. About 6% of Santa Fe’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 Santa Fe. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Santa Fe
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Santa Fe
One private college within 3.9 miles, one public college within 5.4 miles, and Santa Fe Community College 4 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. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Santa Fe’s median household income ($73,482) 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 Santa Fe: 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.
What students study in Santa Fe
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at St. John's 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.
Questions about college in Santa Fe
Is Santa Fe a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Santa Fe residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New Mexico (6). The largest campus in the city, St. John's College, has 409 students on campus.
What colleges are in Santa Fe?
St. John's College is inside the city. Santa Fe Community College is 4 miles from the center, in Santa Fe.
What is the closest community college to Santa Fe, and what does it cost?
Santa Fe Community College in Santa Fe, 4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,851 a year for New Mexico residents; the federal net price, $11,067, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development cost if we live in New Mexico?
Tuition and fees are $5,920 a year in-state and $5,920 from out of state.
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 Santa Fe. 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 →