2026 Rankings

    Best Trade Schools in New Mexico

    Data-driven rankings of 27 trade colleges in New Mexico based on graduation rates, student outcomes, and affordability. No paid placements.

    27 Schools RankedPowered by IPEDS Data

    Showing 1–25 of 27 schools

    #1
    64.4/ 100
    Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque

    Albuquerque, NM · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:74%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:12
    Avg Tuition:$37,433
    Financial Aid:91%
    #2
    58.3/ 100
    Carrington College-Albuquerque

    Albuquerque, NM · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:68%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:7
    Avg Tuition:$22,298
    Financial Aid:94%
    #3
    55.6/ 100
    Mesalands Community College

    Tucumcari, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:55%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:15
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:96%
    #4
    55.0/ 100
    San Juan College

    Farmington, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:36%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:71
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:95%
    #5
    51.1/ 100
    Glitz School of Cosmetology

    Las Cruces, NM · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:66%
    Student-Faculty:15:1
    Programs:6
    Avg Tuition:$11,260
    Financial Aid:100%
    #6
    51.0/ 100
    Central New Mexico Community College

    Albuquerque, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:32%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:114
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:92%
    #7
    50.8/ 100
    Paul Mitchell the School-Albuquerque

    Albuquerque, NM · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:75%
    Student-Faculty:20:1
    Programs:6
    Avg Tuition:$11,300
    Financial Aid:87%
    #8
    50.5/ 100
    Vogue College of Cosmetology-Santa Fe

    Santa Fe, NM · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:56%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$10,020
    Financial Aid:100%
    #9
    49.3/ 100
    Aveda Institute-New Mexico

    Albuquerque, NM · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:80%
    Student-Faculty:16:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$11,835
    Financial Aid:73%
    #10
    48.8/ 100
    University of New Mexico-Taos Campus

    Ranchos de Taos, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:33%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:18
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:98%
    #11
    47.2/ 100
    Olympian Academy of Cosmetology

    LAS CRUCES, NM · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:55%
    Student-Faculty:12:1
    Programs:6
    Avg Tuition:$10,989
    Financial Aid:84%
    #11
    47.2/ 100
    Avenue Academy, A Cosmetology Institute

    Albuquerque, NM · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:80%
    Student-Faculty:32:1
    Programs:5
    Avg Tuition:$13,033
    Financial Aid:72%
    #13
    47.0/ 100
    A Better U Beauty Barber Academy

    Albuquerque, NM · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:96%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:1
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:53%
    #13
    47.0/ 100
    Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute

    Albuquerque, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:42%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:11
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:100%
    #15
    46.0/ 100
    Santa Fe Community College

    Santa Fe, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:29%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:93
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:69%
    #16
    45.3/ 100
    New Mexico State University-Grants

    Grants, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:27%
    Student-Faculty:7:1
    Programs:32
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:96%
    #17
    44.9/ 100
    University of New Mexico-Los Alamos Campus

    Los Alamos, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:25%
    Student-Faculty:5:1
    Programs:16
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:100%
    #18
    44.7/ 100
    University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus logo
    University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus

    Los Lunas, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:20%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:29
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:99%
    #19
    44.4/ 100
    Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus logo
    Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus

    Roswell, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:42%
    Student-Faculty:12:1
    Programs:56
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:87%
    #20
    42.5/ 100
    New Mexico State University-Dona Ana logo
    New Mexico State University-Dona Ana

    Las Cruces, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:25%
    Student-Faculty:12:1
    Programs:90
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:98%
    #21
    42.2/ 100
    University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus logo
    University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus

    Gallup, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:23%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:36
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:98%
    #22
    41.3/ 100
    Clovis Community College logo
    Clovis Community College

    Clovis, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:20%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:50
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:88%
    #23
    40.9/ 100
    New Mexico State University-Alamogordo logo
    New Mexico State University-Alamogordo

    Alamogordo, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:20%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:29
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:94%
    #24
    39.7/ 100
    Southeast New Mexico College logo
    Southeast New Mexico College

    Carlsbad, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:21%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:43
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:84%
    #25
    39.3/ 100
    Luna Community College logo
    Luna Community College

    Las Vegas, NM · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:23%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:35
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:72%

    Our rankings evaluate trade and vocational colleges using six weighted metrics derived from federal IPEDS data: graduation rate, student-faculty ratio, program breadth, institutional scale, financial accessibility, and affordability. Schools must meet minimum eligibility requirements to be ranked.

    How are these rankings calculated? View Methodology