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Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico

2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

12 Schools Ranked
$5,170 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$13,628 Avg Student Debt*

There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking. Our analysis looked at 12 schools in New Mexico to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for trade school students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

Top Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

San Juan College

Farmington, New Mexico
595 Total Awards
$4,882 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named San Juan College the best value school in New Mexico for trade school students working on their associate degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Farmington, New Mexico, and it awarded 595 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

SJC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,882 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,626 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at SJC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 59% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, SJC is ranked #1 for overall quality in New Mexico.

Read full report on San Juan College

#2

Clovis Community College

Clovis, New Mexico
292 Total Awards
$3,224 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 12 schools in New Mexico that were part of this year’s value ranking, Clovis Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Clovis Community College is a small public school situated in Clovis, New Mexico. It awarded 292 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Clovis Community College are $3,224 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,343 in student loans.

Clovis Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 56% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Clovis Community College is ranked #4 for overall quality in New Mexico.

Full Clovis Community College Report

#3

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
3,426 Total Awards
$7,978 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central New Mexico Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico list. Albuquerque, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 3,426 students in 2021-2022.

CNM undergraduate students pay an average of $7,978 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $9,753 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

One thing to take note of is that CNM does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 74% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

CNM did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in New Mexico list.

Full Central New Mexico Community College Report

204 Total Awards
$5,422 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 12 schools in New Mexico that were part of this year’s value ranking, University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus landed the # 4 spot on the list. University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus is a small public school located in Gallup, New Mexico that handed out 204 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UNM Gallup are $5,422 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,575 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

UNM Gallup does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 66% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

UNM Gallup also took the #2 spot in our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in New Mexico rankings.

Read More…

#5

University of New Mexico - Taos Campus

Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico
56 Total Awards
$5,004 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 12 schools in New Mexico that were part of this year’s value ranking, University of New Mexico - Taos Campus landed the # 5 spot on the list. UNM Taos is a public institution located in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 56 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UNM Taos are $5,004 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,575 in student loans.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UNM Taos. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 61% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

UNM Taos not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in New Mexico list.

Read full report on University of New Mexico - Taos Campus

130 Total Awards
$4,008 Average Tuition & Fees

New Mexico State University - Carlsbad ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico list. New Mexico State University - Carlsbad is a small public school located in Carlsbad, New Mexico that handed out 130 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

NMSU Carlsbad undergraduate students pay an average of $4,008 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,626 in student loans.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NMSU Carlsbad does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 59% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full New Mexico State University - Carlsbad Report

#7

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Las Cruces, New Mexico
908 Total Awards
$5,880 Average Tuition & Fees

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking. NMSU Dona Ana is a public institution located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 908 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NMSU Dona Ana are $5,880 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,537 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NMSU Dona Ana does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 87% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

171 Total Awards
$5,616 Average Tuition & Fees

Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. ENMU - Roswell Campus is located in Roswell, New Mexico and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 171 associate degrees to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ENMU - Roswell Campus are $5,616 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,539 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Online courses are available at ENMU - Roswell Campus, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus Report

#9

Santa Fe Community College

Santa Fe, New Mexico
251 Total Awards
$4,995 Average Tuition & Fees

Santa Fe Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. SFCC is a small public school situated in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It awarded 251 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SFCC are $4,995 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,148 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SFCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 67% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Santa Fe Community College Report

#10

New Mexico State University - Alamogordo

Alamogordo, New Mexico
82 Total Awards
$5,592 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #10, New Mexico State University - Alamogordo did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. This small public school is located in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and it awarded 82 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NMSU Alamogordo are $5,592 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,385 in student loans.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at NMSU Alamogordo. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 83% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on New Mexico State University - Alamogordo

37 Total Awards
$4,272 Average Tuition & Fees

New Mexico State University - Grants landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. NMSU Grants is located in Grants, New Mexico and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 37 associate degrees to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at NMSU Grants are $4,272 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,003 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Some students may be able to take online classes at NMSU Grants. In 2020-2021 about 93% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on New Mexico State University - Grants

#12

Brookline College - Albuquerque

Albuquerque, New Mexico
5 Total Awards
$19,477 Avg Student Debt

Brookline College - Albuquerque landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the very small private for-profit school handed out 5 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Brookline College - Albuquerque are $0 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,477 in student loans.

Brookline College - Albuquerque is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Read More…

Best Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 12 schools only.

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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