Northern New Mexico College
Northern New Mexico College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Northern New Mexico College at a Glance
Northern New Mexico College is a public college in Española, New Mexico.
1909
117 years old
1,100
Identity
Is Northern New Mexico College Worth It?
Northern New Mexico College offers moderate value at $7,276/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $38,112, which is 29% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.8 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 30% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 3 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How Northern New Mexico College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #19 of 56 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chipola College | 100 | $1,133 | $37,378 |
| #2 | North Florida College | 100 | $804 | $33,929 |
| #3 | Alpena Community College | 100 | $3,320 | $36,442 |
| #4 | Haskell Indian Nations University | 90 | $3,134 | $37,043 |
| #5 | American Samoa Community College | 89 | $3,386 | $30,087 |
| #6 | Grays Harbor College | 75 | $4,783 | $40,865 |
| #19 | Northern New Mexico College | 40 | $7,276 | $38,112 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Northern New Mexico College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in NM.
Best Programs at Northern New Mexico College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Northern New Mexico College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $7,276/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in NM
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Espanola, NM
- Student Body
- 926 students
- Graduation Rate
- 30%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $7,276
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $38,112