Photo: Zeality · CC BY 2.5The University of New Mexico-Taos Campus is 4.7 miles from Taos
No college sits inside Taos’ boundary, but the University of New Mexico-Taos Campus’s campus in Ranchos de Taos, with 720 students on campus, is 4.7 miles from the center of town. About 5% of Taos’ 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 Taos. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Taos
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Taos
It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Taos.
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 and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $30–48k, where Taos’ median household income ($47,304) 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: 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: University of New Mexico-Taos Campus (5).
Questions about college near Taos
Is Taos a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Taos residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New Mexico (6). The nearest campus, the University of New Mexico-Taos Campus, is 4.7 miles away in Ranchos de Taos.
What colleges are near Taos?
Within 15 miles: the University of New Mexico-Taos Campus (4.7 miles, 720 students on campus).
What is the closest community college to Taos, and what does it cost?
University of New Mexico-Taos Campus in Ranchos de Taos, 4.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,136 a year for New Mexico residents; the federal net price, $9,165, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Northern New Mexico College cost if we live in New Mexico?
Tuition and fees are $6,400 a year in-state and $14,328 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 Taos. 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 →