Albuquerque, New Mexico Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Albuquerque, New Mexico: median public in-state tuition $2,060 (-62.6% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $37,184 (-31.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 81.4% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $9,500 (-28.4% vs U.S.) 34,545 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 11 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 34,545 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $2,060 (-62.6% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $37,184 (-31.6% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 81.4% (-6.6 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $15,620 (+56.7% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $9,500 (-28.4% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 50.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 38.1%
Download the data
Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Albuquerque serve students across New Mexico with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 11 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 34,545 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $2,060. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Albuquerque, New Mexico and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Albuquerque vs New Mexico & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, New Mexico | $2,060 | $15,620 | $9,500 | 50.9% | 34,545 |
| New Mexico (state median) | $2,235 | $5,908 | $11,356 | 37.0% | 80,152 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Albuquerque, New Mexico vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, New Mexico | $37,184 | 81.4% | 38.1% | 11.5% | — | 47.0% | 0.37 |
| New Mexico (state median) | $41,944 | 82.1% | 66.1% | 12.5% | — | 65.0% | 0.42 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in New Mexico (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, New Mexico | $2,060 | $15,620 | $9,500 | 50.9% | 34,545 | $37,184 | 81.4% |
| Las Cruces | $5,252 | $8,889 | $17,095 | 55.2% | 17,247 | $39,067 | 82.7% |
| Santa Fe | $5,920 | $12,570 | $7,999 | 34.8% | 4,161 | $34,745 | 77.1% |
| Hobbs | $9,055 | $11,726 | $16,308 | 17.0% | 2,521 | $45,389 | 83.1% |
| Las Vegas | $4,445 | $9,716 | $11,399 | 26.2% | 1,874 | $45,937 | 86.1% |
| Las Vegas | $4,445 | $9,716 | $11,399 | 26.2% | 1,874 | $45,937 | 86.1% |
| Roswell | $4,723 | $4,108 | $11,000 | N/A | 1,631 | N/A | N/A |
| Roswell | $4,723 | $4,108 | $11,000 | N/A | 1,631 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 2 colleges in Albuquerque, New Mexico by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
-
Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 54.7%, University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
-
Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 47.1%, Brookline College-Albuquerque
Brookline College-Albuquerque
Top 2 colleges in Albuquerque, New Mexico by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 83.7%, University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
-
Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 79.1%, Brookline College-Albuquerque
Brookline College-Albuquerque
Most selective college in Albuquerque, New Mexico (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
-
Rank 1, Admission Rate, 95.2%, University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Top 2 colleges in Albuquerque, New Mexico by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
-
Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $89,498, University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
-
Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $78,980, Brookline College-Albuquerque
Brookline College-Albuquerque
Top 2 colleges in Albuquerque, New Mexico by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
-
Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $126,356, University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
-
Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $91,208, Brookline College-Albuquerque
Brookline College-Albuquerque
Top 2 colleges in Albuquerque, New Mexico by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $37,150, University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
-
Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $32,705, Brookline College-Albuquerque
Brookline College-Albuquerque
Top 2 colleges in Albuquerque, New Mexico by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $41,307, University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
-
Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $31,326, Brookline College-Albuquerque
Brookline College-Albuquerque
Top 2 colleges in Albuquerque, New Mexico by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $44,792, University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
-
Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $29,576, Brookline College-Albuquerque
Brookline College-Albuquerque
Top 2 colleges in Albuquerque, New Mexico by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $128,082, University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
-
Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $-31,222, Brookline College-Albuquerque
Brookline College-Albuquerque
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Albuquerque, New Mexico (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
-
Rank 1, Net Price, $15,489, University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
-
Rank 2, Net Price, $37,459, Brookline College-Albuquerque
Brookline College-Albuquerque
Top 2 colleges in Albuquerque, New Mexico by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 76.2%, University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
-
Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 0.0%, Brookline College-Albuquerque
Brookline College-Albuquerque
In-state tuition: Albuquerque, New Mexico vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Albuquerque, New Mexico median in-state tuition is $2,060, -62.6% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Albuquerque, New Mexico vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Albuquerque, New Mexico is $9,500 (-28.4% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): Albuquerque, New Mexico vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Albuquerque, New Mexico center around $37,184 (-31.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Albuquerque, New Mexico vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 81.4% at the median Albuquerque, New Mexico campus (-6.6 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Albuquerque, New Mexico median public in-state tuition is $2,060, about -62.6% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is -44.1%.
Median graduate debt is $9,500 (-28.4% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Albuquerque, New Mexico are $37,184, about -31.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 81.4% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-6.6 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 38.1% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 11.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 47.0% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of New Mexico-Main Campus (83.7%), Brookline College-Albuquerque (79.1%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Albuquerque, New Mexico is 50.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Albuquerque?
This city profile covers 11 campuses in Albuquerque, New Mexico with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Albuquerque?
Median in-state tuition in Albuquerque is $2,060 and median net price is $15,620. For New Mexico overall, medians are $2,235 and $5,908; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Albuquerque?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Albuquerque is $37,184 vs $41,944 for New Mexico and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Albuquerque colleges?
Median completer debt in Albuquerque is $9,500 vs $11,356 for New Mexico and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Albuquerque?
Top campuses on this page include University of New Mexico-Main Campus (graduation) and University of New Mexico-Main Campus (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Albuquerque?
Among 11 campuses in Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1 tribal college (IPEDS TRIBAL flag), including Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute; 9 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College, and University of New Mexico-Main Campus.
Sources & related
- New Mexico college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON