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2026 Best Value Trade Schools in New Mexico
Looking for the best-value Trade degree programs in New Mexico? Our ranking highlights 45 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Trade College reviewed 16 schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Trade Degree Schools in New Mexico
Explore the best-value schools below:
Clovis Community College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in New Mexico. This public school is set in Clovis, NM. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,592, with out-of-state students paying around $3,344. The median Trade program debt is $11,082. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,020 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $11,082 median debt. Get the full Clovis Community College report
A rank of #2 makes San Juan College one of the best values in New Mexico. Located in Farmington, NM, San Juan College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,910, with out-of-state students paying around $5,393. The median Trade program debt is $16,150. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $36,513. That is a strong return on a $16,150 median debt. Read more about San Juan College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of New Mexico Taos Campus earned it the #3 place in New Mexico. Set in Ranchos de Taos, NM, University Of New Mexico Taos Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, while out-of-state students pay about $5,136. University Of New Mexico Taos Campus Trade students take on a median of $10,986 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,792 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,986 median debt. Read more about University Of New Mexico Taos Campus
You'll get strong value at Central New Mexico Community College, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in Albuquerque, NM. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Central New Mexico Community College Trade students take on a median of $10,112 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,869 ten years after entry. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Central New Mexico Community College profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus earned it the #5 place in New Mexico. Set in Los Lunas, NM, University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,878, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $10,986 in student loans. Median earnings reach $44,792 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus
University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Based in Gallup, NM, University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,906, with out-of-state students paying around $5,682. The median Trade program debt is $10,986. Median earnings reach $44,792 ten years out. Set against $10,986 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus
New Mexico State University Carlsbad came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Carlsbad, NM. Students from in state pay about $1,176 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,008 for out-of-state students. Typical Trade student debt is $10,284. Get the full New Mexico State University Carlsbad report
New Mexico State University Dona Ana placed #8 among the best-value Trade schools in New Mexico. Set in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,322, compared with $6,360 for out-of-state students. New Mexico State University Dona Ana Trade students take on a median of $10,284 in debt. Median earnings reach $39,067 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on New Mexico State University Dona Ana
Santa Fe Community College landed the #9 spot for value in New Mexico this year. Santa Fe Community College is a public school based in Santa Fe, NM. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,851, with out-of-state students paying around $4,131. Students borrow a median of $15,267 to complete their Trade program here. Median earnings reach $38,005 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Santa Fe Community College
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus placed #10 among the best-value Trade schools in New Mexico. Located in Roswell, NM, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,256, with out-of-state students paying around $5,616. Students borrow a median of $11,110 to complete their Trade program here. Median earnings reach $38,550 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus profile
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a public school based in Portales, NM. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,074, with out-of-state students paying around $9,054. The median Trade program debt is $19,277. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,550. That is a strong return on a $19,277 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted. More on Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
New Mexico State University Alamogordo ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. New Mexico State University Alamogordo is a public school based in Alamogordo, NM. Students from in state pay about $2,616 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,072. New Mexico State University Alamogordo Trade students take on a median of $8,872 in debt. Median earnings reach $39,067 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full New Mexico State University Alamogordo report
New Mexico State University Grants ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. New Mexico State University Grants is a public school based in Grants, NM. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,136, compared with $4,272 for out-of-state students. New Mexico State University Grants Trade students take on a median of $9,048 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $39,067. Set against $9,048 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full New Mexico State University Grants report
New Mexico State University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public school based in Las Cruces, NM. Students from in state pay about $8,183 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Typical Trade student debt is $19,026. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $39,067. Set against $19,026 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants. See the full New Mexico State University Main Campus profile
University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #15 among the best-value Trade schools in New Mexico. Based in Albuquerque, NM, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $19,738 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $44,792. Set against $19,738 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%. Get the full University Of New Mexico Main Campus report
Brookline College Albuquerque ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Brookline College Albuquerque is a private for-profit school based in Albuquerque, NM. Brookline College Albuquerque Trade students take on a median of $22,271 in debt. Median earnings reach $29,576 ten years out. Set against $22,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Brookline College Albuquerque report
Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Get the full Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture report
New Mexico Junior College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Read the full report on New Mexico Junior College
Olympian Academy Of Cosmetology Alamogordo came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. More on Olympian Academy Of Cosmetology Alamogordo
Burrell College Of Osteopathic Medicine offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on Burrell College Of Osteopathic Medicine
Glitz School Of Cosmetology landed the #21 spot for value in New Mexico this year. More on Glitz School Of Cosmetology
University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus landed the #22 spot for value in New Mexico this year. Read the full report on University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus
Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque placed #23 among the best-value Trade schools in New Mexico. See the full Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque profile
Southwest University Of Naprapathic Medicine came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Southwest University Of Naprapathic Medicine report
New Mexico Military Institute came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Get the full New Mexico Military Institute report
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Trade Degree Schools in New Mexico
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
A Better U Beauty Barber Academy placed #26 among the best-value Trade schools in New Mexico. See the full A Better U Beauty Barber Academy profile
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute report
New Mexico Highlands University placed #28 among the best-value Trade schools in New Mexico. Read the full report on New Mexico Highlands University
Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. More on New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology
Glitz School Of Cosmetology Santa Fe Campus landed the #31 spot for value in New Mexico this year. Read more about Glitz School Of Cosmetology Santa Fe Campus
St Johns College New Mexico came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. More on St Johns College New Mexico
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Albuquerque landed the #33 spot for value in New Mexico this year. Read the full report on Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Albuquerque
University Of The Southwest offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. See the full University Of The Southwest profile
Carrington College Albuquerque came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. More on Carrington College Albuquerque
Mesalands Community College landed the #36 spot for value in New Mexico this year. Get the full Mesalands Community College report
Vogue College Of Cosmetology Santa Fe ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. See the full Vogue College Of Cosmetology Santa Fe profile
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Rio Rancho ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Read the full report on Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Rio Rancho
Aveda Institute New Mexico offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Aveda Institute New Mexico profile
Southwestern College Santa Fe placed #40 among the best-value Trade schools in New Mexico. See the full Southwestern College Santa Fe profile
Northern New Mexico College placed #41 among the best-value Trade schools in New Mexico. Read more about Northern New Mexico College
Luna Community College placed #42 among the best-value Trade schools in New Mexico. Get the full Luna Community College report
Navajo Technical College placed #43 among the best-value Trade schools in New Mexico. More on Navajo Technical College
Western New Mexico University came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Western New Mexico University
Avenue Academy A Cosmetology Institute placed #45 among the best-value Trade schools in New Mexico. Get the full Avenue Academy A Cosmetology Institute report
More Trade Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 16 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 45 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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