Public Associate Good 67/100

Central New Mexico Community College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Albuquerque, New Mexico

About Central New Mexico Community College

Central New Mexico Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It enrolls 15,203 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
23.2%
Net Price
$4,621
Median Earnings (10yr)
$36,869
Enrollment
15,203
Student : Faculty
21:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Trimester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
67/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 28
Value 88
Affordability 57
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Central New Mexico Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Central New Mexico Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $4,621 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$4,621
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
16%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$2,060
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,684
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,574
Books & Supplies
$1,488
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,534
Total Cost of Attendance
$11,600

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $2,975
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $3,721
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $5,897
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $8,453
  • Over $110,000
    $9,432

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,167
10% percentile
$2,134
25% percentile
$6,612
Median percentile
$9,584
75% percentile
$19,066
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $5,000 ↓ $1,612
No Pell $3,500 ↓ $3,112
Dependent students $3,500 ↓ $3,112
Independent students $5,834 ↓ $778
Female students $4,500 ↓ $2,112
Male students $4,443 ↓ $2,169
Pell recipients: 18.7% (1,235 students)No Pell: 13.1% (864 students)Dependent students: 13.1% (864 students)Independent students: 21.8% (1,441 students)Female students: 16.8% (1,111 students)Male students: 16.6% (1,097 students)Overall Median$6,612
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $3,668, less than completers ($6,612), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

23% of full-time students who enrolled at Central New Mexico Community College graduate within six years, and 62% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
23%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
62%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $36,869 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,869
Earning > $25K
61%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$32,000$33,000$35,000$36,000$38,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$31,400

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$37,900

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$31,300

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$38,800

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$44,000

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $6,500, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 19.9 pts across 6 years
44.4%1yr51.5%3yr55.4%5yr64.3%7yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 64% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Central New Mexico Community College is home to 15,203 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 48% are first-generation college students, 71% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
15,203
Part-Time
71%
First-Generation
48%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 55.1% 8,375
White 24.4% 3,708
Other 9.7% 1,478
Black 2.8% 427
Asian 1.8% 269
International 0.3% 52
Hispanic: 55.1% (8,375 students)White: 24.4% (3,708 students)Other: 9.7% (1,478 students)Black: 2.8% (427 students)Asian: 1.8% (269 students)International: 0.3% (52 students)Total15,203

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Central New Mexico Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City Albuquerque, New Mexico
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
42% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Trimester scheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

Central New Mexico Community College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 86 distinct programs across 28 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs
14 Programs
9 Programs
4 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Central New Mexico Community College is 21:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty
21:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,121
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$18M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,826
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

268 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Instructors 268 100% $63,826

Pros & Cons of Central New Mexico Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Central New Mexico Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Open admissions
  • Low typical debt at graduation
  • First-gen-friendly student body
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Central New Mexico Community College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Central New Mexico Community College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Central New Mexico Community College.

Is Central New Mexico Community College hard to get into?
Central New Mexico Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Central New Mexico Community College?
Central New Mexico Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Central New Mexico Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Central New Mexico Community College is $4,621 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Central New Mexico Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,869 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $4,621 per year. That's roughly 8.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Central New Mexico Community College known for?
Central New Mexico Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Central New Mexico Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Central New Mexico Community College are $36,869, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Central New Mexico Community College accredited?
Yes. Central New Mexico Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Central New Mexico Community College?
Central New Mexico Community College enrolls 15,203 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Central New Mexico Community College?
Central New Mexico Community College graduates 23% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Central New Mexico Community College a public or private college?
Central New Mexico Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Central New Mexico Community College located?
Central New Mexico Community College is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
What programs does Central New Mexico Community College offer?
Central New Mexico Community College offers 86 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Central New Mexico Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Central New Mexico Community College is 21:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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