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Looking Southwest down the Los Padillas Drain in the South Valley, New MexicoPhoto: Matthew.kowal · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near South Valley

Central New Mexico Community College is 5.3 miles from South Valley

No college sits inside South Valley’s boundary, but Central New Mexico Community College’s campus in Albuquerque, with 11,593 students on campus, is 5.3 miles from the center of town. About 6% of South Valley’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 South Valley. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
32,222 students on campus
Nearest college
5.3 mi
Central New Mexico
Residents in college
6%
About the same as NM (6%)
Nearest community college
5.3 mi
Central New Mexico · $2,060 tuition
Nearest public university
6.3 mi
University of New Mexico · $10,140 in-state
Median household income
$58K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from South Valley

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

A community college 5.3 miles awayCentral New Mexico Community College has 11,593 students on campus in Albuquerque, 31% 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 South Valley

Three private colleges within 8.3 miles, one public college within 6.3 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of New MexicoCentral New MexicoPima Medical Institute-AlbuquerqueSouth Valley
University or collegeCommunity college
Central New Mexico Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 11,593 on campus · 5.3 mi · Albuquerque$5knet price31%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $2,060 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Brookline College-AlbuquerqueUniversity or college · For-profit · 492 on campus · 5.9 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 · 6.3 mi · Albuquerque95%admitted$15knet price55%graduate$45kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Carrington College-AlbuquerqueUniversity or college · For-profit · 297 on campus · 7.5 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 · 8.3 mi · Albuquerque$21knet price68%graduate$31kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Southwestern Indian Polytechnic InstituteCommunity college · Public · 231 on campus · 11.6 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 $48–75k, where South Valley’s median household income ($58,224) falls.

Central New Mexico Community College5.3 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $11,600 · tuition $2,060$5,897a year
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute11.6 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $12,125 · tuition $1,095$7,418a year
University of New Mexico6.3 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $21,259$16,196a year
Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque8.3 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $28,183$18,386a year
Carrington College-Albuquerque7.5 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $56,412$46,239a year
Brookline College-Albuquerque5.9 mi · Albuquerque · sticker $40,105—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 South Valley: 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 →Central New MexicoBrookline College-AlbuquerqueUniversity of New MexicoCarrington College-AlbuquerquePima Medical Institute-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: Brookline College-Albuquerque (4); University of New Mexico (5); Carrington College-Albuquerque (5); Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque (2).

Questions about college near South Valley

Is South Valley a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 South Valley residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New Mexico (6). The nearest campus, Central New Mexico Community College, is 5.3 miles away in Albuquerque.

What colleges are near South Valley?

Within 15 miles: Central New Mexico Community College (5.3 miles, 11,593 students on campus), Brookline College-Albuquerque (5.9 miles, 492), the University of New Mexico (6.3 miles, 18,901), Carrington College-Albuquerque (7.5 miles, 297), Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque (8.3 miles, 708) and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (11.6 miles, 231).

What is the closest community college to South Valley, and what does it cost?

Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, 5.3 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 South Valley. 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 →