2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico

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First-year retention rates measure the percentage of first-year students who come back to campus for a second year. This is an indicator of how happy students are generally with their decision to attend that institution as less students decide to drop out or transfer to another school.

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Rank	Institution	First Year Retention Rate	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	St. John's College	81.08	52.79	1,300 – 1,480	28368	50918	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico St. John's College Santa Fe, NM St. John’s College sits in the shadow of Atalaya Mountain. A very small school, it should come as no surprise that the student-to-faculty ratio is low – 8 to 1. The mascot of the New Mexico branch is the axolotl. 92% of students receive institutional grants. First Year Retention Rate 81 % 3.4% Acceptance Rate 52.8% SAT Score 1,300 – 1,480 Avg. Net Price $28,368 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,918
2	New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology	76.6	54.05	1,130 – 1,330	9133	54530	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, NM The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology offers 29 degree programs. Many students choose to study Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, and Chemical Engineering. NMT is a space-grant school with a 9 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. First Year Retention Rate 77 % Acceptance Rate 54.1% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $9,133 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,530
3	University of New Mexico-Main Campus	75	79.33	910 – 1,180	7528	37150	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico University of New Mexico-Main Campus Albuquerque, NM Based in Albuquerque, the University of New Mexico-Main Campus’s acceptance rate is 79% and requires $25 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 74% of students attending the University of New Mexico-Main Campus will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At......Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % 4.2% Acceptance Rate 79.3% SAT Score 910 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $7,528 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,150
4	New Mexico State University-Main Campus	73.4	88.96	890 – 1,130	8353	32960	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, NM Found in Las Cruces, New Mexico State University-Main Campus accepts 89% of applicants and charges $25 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 73% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. On average, these students receive $8,707 each. The first year retention rate is 73%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % 2.1% Acceptance Rate 89.0% SAT Score 890 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $8,353 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $32,960
5	Navajo Technical University	68	92.52	--	4233	23280	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico Navajo Technical University Crownpoint, NM Found in Crownpoint, Navajo Technical University’s acceptance rate is 93%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. Approximately 92% of students at Navajo Technical University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 68 % Acceptance Rate 92.5% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $4,233 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $23,280
6	Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus	61.51	91.66	860 – 1,080	6683	33619	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus Portales, NM Based in Portales, Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus accepts 92% of applicants and requests $100 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 38% of students attending Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus will receive institutional grant aid. At Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus, there is a......Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % 1.0% Acceptance Rate 91.7% SAT Score 860 – 1,080 Avg. Net Price $6,683 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,619
7	Western New Mexico University	58	100	--	8712	31166	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico Western New Mexico University Silver City, NM Found in Silver City, Western New Mexico University’s acceptance rate is 100%. They request $30 for undergraduate applications and $40 for graduate applications. Approximately 35% of students at Western New Mexico University currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 58 % 48.7% Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $8,712 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $31,166
8	University of the Southwest	56	75.73	850 – 1,040	20438	36600	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico University of the Southwest Hobbs, NM Based in Hobbs, the University of the Southwest accepted 76% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 92% of students at the University of the Southwest currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 56 % Acceptance Rate 75.7% SAT Score 850 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $20,438 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,600
9	Brookline College-Albuquerque	0	58.22	--	37566	59213	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico Brookline College-Albuquerque Albuquerque, NM First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 58.2% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $37,566 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,213
10	Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development	0	100	780 – 1,010	14334	20816	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development Santa Fe, NM First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 780 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $14,334 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $20,816
11	New Mexico Highlands University	0	94.81	850 – 1,040	15106	38952	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico New Mexico Highlands University Las Vegas, NM First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 94.8% SAT Score 850 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $15,106 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,952
12	Northern New Mexico College	0	75.73	--	6102	34377	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico Northern New Mexico College Espanola, NM First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 75.7% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $6,102 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $34,377

School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.

2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico

81 % 3.4%

52.8%

1,300 – 1,480

$28,368

$50,918

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico

77 %

54.1%

1,130 – 1,330

$9,133

$54,530

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico

75 % 4.2%

79.3%

910 – 1,180

$7,528

$37,150

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico

73 % 2.1%

89.0%

890 – 1,130

$8,353

$32,960

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico

68 %

92.5%

--

$4,233

$23,280

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico

62 % 1.0%

91.7%

860 – 1,080

$6,683

$33,619

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico

58 % 48.7%

100.0%

--

$8,712

$31,166

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico

56 %

75.7%

850 – 1,040

$20,438

$36,600

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico

--

58.2%

--

$37,566

$59,213

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico

--

100.0%

780 – 1,010

$14,334

$20,816

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico

--

94.8%

850 – 1,040

$15,106

$38,952

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico

--

75.7%

--

$6,102

$34,377

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81 %
3.4%

75 %
4.2%

73 %
2.1%

62 %
1.0%

58 %
48.7%