Public Associate Fair 43/100

Southeast New Mexico College

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

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Carlsbad, New Mexico

About Southeast New Mexico College

Thinking about Southeast New Mexico College, a college in New Mexico where more students graduate in Liberal Arts than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

Southeast New Mexico College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Carlsbad, New Mexico. It enrolls 469 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
—
Net Price
$5,734
Median Earnings (10yr)
—
Enrollment
469
Student : Faculty
9:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (2-Year), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Fair
43/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 6
Value —
Affordability 42
Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Southeast New Mexico College admits essentially everyone who qualifies, so plan around cost and completion instead of your odds of getting in.

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

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $5,734 a year on average, it sits well below what public colleges charge nationally. At that level cost is rarely the reason to rule a college out. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.

The average hides a wide spread by household income, so it is worth estimating what a family at your income would actually pay before treating this as the price.

Average Net Price
$5,734
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
12%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
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)
$1,176
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$4,008
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,076
Books & Supplies
$1,460
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,430
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,604

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
    $5,147
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $6,466
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $6,176
What this means: 12% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.

Graduation Rate & Retention

47% come back after first year. A sizeable share do not return for year two. Worth asking why. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
—
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
47%
Returning for their second year

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 469 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Worth knowing: 57% study part-time, so many are working alongside classes.

Total Enrolled
469
Part-Time
57%
First-Generation
—

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 57.4% 269
White 30.7% 144
International 2.4% 11
Black 1.5% 7
Asian 1.3% 6
Other 0.9% 4
Hispanic: 57.4% (269 students)White: 30.7% (144 students)International: 2.4% (11 students)Black: 1.5% (7 students)Asian: 1.3% (6 students)Other: 0.9% (4 students)Total469

Student Life & Campus Culture

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

Setting
Rural: Fringe Carlsbad, New Mexico
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
17% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

After that comes the national picture for Health graduates, which shows what the field pays across every college rather than just this one.

Southeast New Mexico College offers a varied set of programs: 21 distinct programs across 12 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.

1 Program
4 Programs
3 Programs
1 Program
2 Programs

Faculty & Resources

There are 9 students for every instructor here: small classes, and staff who are likely to know your name.

Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,317
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$1.2M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$79,915
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

37 instructional faculty across 4 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 11 30% $96,465
Associate Professors 2 5% $87,230
Assistant Professors 12 32% $71,935
Instructors 12 32% $71,505

Pros & Cons of Southeast New Mexico College

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Southeast New Mexico College is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Open admissions
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Southeast New Mexico 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 Southeast New Mexico College

The questions families ask most about Southeast New Mexico College, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

Is Southeast New Mexico College hard to get into?
Not especially. Southeast New Mexico College admits most qualified applicants, and reports no competitive acceptance rate. Plan around cost and whether students finish, not your odds of getting in.
What is the acceptance rate at Southeast New Mexico College?
No acceptance rate is reported, which for a college like this normally means admission is open to anyone meeting the basic requirements. Confirm with the admissions office rather than assuming it.
How much does Southeast New Mexico College cost?
Budget around $5,734 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southeast New Mexico College known for?
Mostly Liberal Arts, Clinical/Medical Laboratory, Nursing. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Southeast New Mexico College accredited?
Yes. Southeast New Mexico College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Southeast New Mexico College?
469 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Southeast New Mexico College a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is Southeast New Mexico College located?
Southeast New Mexico College is located in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
What programs does Southeast New Mexico College offer?
21 different programs, most commonly Liberal Arts, Clinical/Medical Laboratory, Nursing. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southeast New Mexico College?
9 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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