Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in New Mexico
Ranked by graduate earnings
New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico and St. John's College are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in New Mexico by graduate earnings. New Mexico State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,568, College Scorecard. University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University and St. John's College award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in New Mexico: 157, 141 and 119 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 29 New Mexico colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 5,061 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 4 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico State University Las Cruces Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,568 | 141 | 55% | — | $24,656 |
| 2 | University of New Mexico Albuquerque Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,428 | 157 | 55% | — | $23,125 |
| 3 | St. John's College Santa Fe Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,029 | 119 | 55% | $22,042 | $27,000 |
| 4 | New Mexico Highlands University Las Vegas Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $26,461 | 15 | 26% | — | $28,606 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque Public · Associate degree | $31,097 | 2,344 | 31% | — | $6,625 |
| 2 | New Mexico Junior College Hobbs Public · Associate degree | $27,179 | 275 | 58% | — | $6,500 |
| 3 | Eastern New Mexico University Portales Public · Associate degree | $21,129 | 357 | 45% | — | $11,110 |
| 4 | Clovis Community College Clovis Public · Associate degree | $18,362 | 222 | 34% | — | $11,000 |
| 5 | San Juan College Farmington Public · Associate degree | $17,969 | 363 | 37% | — | $6,402 |
| 6 | New Mexico Military Institute Roswell Public · Associate degree | $10,627 | 98 | 44% | — | $5,500 |
| 7 | Luna Community College Las Vegas Public · Certificate Small program | $32,091 | 13 | 28% | — | — |
| 8 | New Mexico State University - Dona Ana Las Cruces Public · Associate degree | $27,868 | 402 | 19% | — | $10,497 |
| 9 | Southeast New Mexico College Carlsbad Public · Associate degree | $27,868 | 25 | 20% | — | $10,497 |
| 10 | University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus Gallup Public · Associate degree | $22,417 | 118 | 20% | — | $10,084 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in New Mexico
Top 6 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of New Mexico Albuquerque Public | 157 | $31,428 |
| 2 | New Mexico State University Las Cruces Public | 141 | $31,568 |
| 3 | St. John's College Santa Fe Private not-for-profit | 119 | $23,029 |
| 4 | Western New Mexico University Silver City Public | 104 | Not reported |
| 5 | Mesalands Community College Tucumcari Public | 38 | Not reported |
| 6 | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro Public | 5 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 23 New Mexico colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in New Mexico
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in New Mexico.
Which New Mexico colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
University of New Mexico (157 graduates a year), New Mexico State University (141 graduates a year) and St. John's College (119 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in New Mexico, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 29 New Mexico colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in New Mexico?+
By graduate earnings, New Mexico State University leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in New Mexico, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,568, College Scorecard. University of New Mexico and St. John's College follow. By degrees awarded, University of New Mexico is the largest, with 157 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in New Mexico has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, New Mexico State University tops the list at $31,568. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in New Mexico?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in New Mexico is $83,990 (median $78,840), across about 1,360 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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