Santa Fe Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It enrolls 3,369 students (a mid-sized 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.
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.
Fair
49/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes14
Value47
Affordability29
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe 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 $11,067 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,067
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
17%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
1%
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)
$1,851
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$4,131
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,170
Books & Supplies
$1,235
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,835
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,405
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
$10,145
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,255
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,688
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.
$2,00010%percentile
$4,18925%percentile
$13,236Medianpercentile
$19,81375%percentile
$34,61590%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 $10,250
↓ $2,986
No Pell $9,419
↓ $3,817
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $7,736
Independent students $11,261
↓ $1,975
Female students $9,604
↓ $3,632
Male students $9,500
↓ $3,736
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, close to what completers borrow ($13,236) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
23% of full-time students who enrolled at Santa Fe Community College graduate within six years, and 57% 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
57%
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 Santa Fe Community College earn a median of $38,005 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,005
Earning > $25K
62%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
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
$34,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$35,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
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 ↑
24.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 75% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Santa Fe Community College is home to 3,369 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 80% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
3,369
Part-Time
80%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 54.8%1,845
White 29.0%978
Other 7.6%255
International 4.6%155
Asian 1.6%55
Black 1.3%42
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Santa Fe Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeSanta Fe, New Mexico
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
47%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Santa Fe Community College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
47 distinct programs across
20 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Santa Fe Community College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,012
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$12M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$64,805
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
65 instructional faculty across 3 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
Full Professors
3
5%
$68,655
Associate Professors
7
11%
$67,340
Assistant Professors
55
85%
$64,273
Pros & Cons of Santa Fe Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Santa Fe Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Santa Fe Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Fe Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Santa Fe Community College.
Is Santa Fe Community College hard to get into?
Santa Fe Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Santa Fe Community College?
Santa Fe Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Santa Fe Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Santa Fe Community College is $11,067 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Santa Fe Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,005 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,067 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Santa Fe Community College known for?
Santa Fe Community College is best known for its programs in Practical Nursing, Nursing, Accounting. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Santa Fe Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Santa Fe Community College are $38,005, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Santa Fe Community College accredited?
Yes. Santa Fe Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Santa Fe Community College?
Santa Fe Community College enrolls 3,369 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Santa Fe Community College?
Santa Fe Community College graduates 23% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Santa Fe Community College a public or private college?
Santa Fe Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Santa Fe Community College located?
Santa Fe Community College is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
What programs does Santa Fe Community College offer?
Santa Fe Community College offers 47 distinct programs. The most popular include Practical Nursing, Nursing, Accounting.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Santa Fe Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Santa Fe Community College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in New Mexico
Other colleges in New Mexico share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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