Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Albuquerque, NM 87120-3101
About Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is a public community college in Albuquerque, New Mexico, enrolling about 215 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $5,181 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,095. Student demographics in federal data include American Indian or Alaska Native (100.0%) and White (0.0%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key findings
- Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute charges about 0.2× the national public median tuition ($1,095).
- Versus the New Mexico median, sticker tuition is about 0.5×.
- Average net price runs below the New Mexico median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 14.00%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $27,660.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1235% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute | $1,095 | $5,181 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| New Mexico (state median) | $2,289 | $5,908 | 30 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute really?
Key findings
- Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute charges about 0.2× the national public median tuition ($1,095).
- Versus the New Mexico median, sticker tuition is about 0.5×.
- Average net price runs below the New Mexico median net price.
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $1,095
Finding Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute charges about 0.2× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $1,095. That is about 0.2× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the New Mexico median ($2,289), sticker tuition is about 0.5×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.1×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is $5,181.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $5,181 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $728 below the New Mexico median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $13,519 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$1,095
Avg. net price
$5,181
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $4,302 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $5,900 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $7,418 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $2,850 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $4,380. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is known for
Top program completions
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies9
- Natural Resources and Conservation, Other7
- Institutional Food Workers7
- CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician7
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching6
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute.
Campus
Location
Albuquerque, NM
City / state
- ZIP
- 87120-3101
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is about 0.3× the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Southwest
- Carnegie
- Not classified (other)
Size
Enrollment
215
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 279
- Full-time share
- 77%
Student aid
Debt & aid
- Pell grant share
- 48.07%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute was not reported in the College Scorecard extract for this institution.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $675 | $675 | $8,347 |
| 2014 | $1,095 | $1,095 | $9,229 |
| 2015 | $1,095 | $1,095 | $8,458 |
| 2016 | $1,095 | $1,095 | $5,565 |
| 2017 | $1,095 | $1,095 | $6,978 |
| 2018 | $1,095 | $1,095 | $4,219 |
| 2019 | $1,095 | $1,095 | $5,458 |
| 2020 | $1,095 | $1,095 | $7,505 |
| 2021 | $1,095 | $1,095 | $8,980 |
| 2022 | — | — | $15,937 |
| 2023 | $1,095 | $1,095 | $8,683 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute reported total enrollment of about 215 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 39% male and 61% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes American Indian or Alaska Native (100.0%), White (0.0%), and Black or African American (0.0%). About 48.07% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 43.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
77.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in 2024 is 215 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 279 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
58.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
14.00% 100% Completion Time
14.00% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 14.00% of students graduating from Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 44% male / 56% female
- Natural Resources and Conservation, Other: 14% male / 86% female
- Institutional Food Workers: 43% male / 57% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a median of $27,660 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $27,660. Average net price used in cost models: $5,181.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute graduates report median earnings of $27,660 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (12 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- New Mexico median 48.6 pp above median (51.4%)
- Southwest median 40.3 pp above median (59.7%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,183
- New Mexico median near the median ($7,218)
- Southwest median near the median ($7,078)
- U.S. median 0.94× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $26,692
- New Mexico median 2.7× the median ($9,936)
- Southwest median 4.7× the median ($5,699)
- U.S. median 3.7× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute at a glance
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is a public institution in Albuquerque, NM, classified as Not classified (other).
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal StudiesNatural Resources and Conservation, OtherInstitutional Food Workers
- Largest enrollment groups
- American Indian or Alaska Native100.0%White or Caucasian0.0%Black or African American0.0%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Other campuses in Albuquerque, NM when available, plus nearby institutions in New Mexico.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade F) within New Mexico, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute located?
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is located in Albuquerque, NM.
What is Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute's tuition?
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $1,095 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $5,181 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute cost?
Reported tuition is $1,095 and average net price is $5,181 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $675 annually.
What explains Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($5,181), completion (14.0% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($27,660). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute?
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute reports undergraduate enrollment of about 279 students, American Indian or Alaska Native (100.0%), White (0.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute?
About 43.5% of students at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute earn?
Median earnings are $22,307 six years after entry and $27,660 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute?
The 150%-time completion rate is 14.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute public or private?
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is a public institution located in Albuquerque, NM.
Is Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute an HBCU?
No. Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute a tribal college?
Yes. Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS (TRIBAL = Yes).
Is Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute does not meet that proxy (reported share 0.0%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- New Mexico college profile
- New Mexico college costs
- New Mexico colleges by ROI
- New Mexico trade schools profile
- Albuquerque, New Mexico city profile
- Southwest regional profile
- Rural college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in New Mexico
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.