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	82	53.15	1,300 – 1,480	25209	33770	#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. 93% of students receive institutional grants. First Year Retention Rate 82 % 5.1% Acceptance Rate 53.2% SAT Score 1,300 – 1,480 Avg. Net Price $25,209 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,770
2	New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology	77	44.49	1,080 – 1,320	11551	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 28 degree programs. Many students choose to study Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, and Electrical and Electronics Engineering. NMT is a space-grant school with a 9 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. First Year Retention Rate 77 % Acceptance Rate 44.5% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $11,551 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,530
3	University of New Mexico-Main Campus	76	95.18	910 – 1,180	6347	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 95% and requires $25 for undergraduate applications and $60 for graduate applications. About 76% 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 76 % 4.1% Acceptance Rate 95.2% SAT Score 910 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $6,347 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,150
4	New Mexico State University-Main Campus	73	88.97	890 – 1,130	10719	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 70% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. On average, these students receive $7,305 each. The first year retention rate is 73%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 73 % 2.7% Acceptance Rate 89.0% SAT Score 890 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $10,719 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $32,960
5	Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development	70	97.47	780 – 1,010	15381	20816	#5 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 Found in Santa Fe, the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development’s acceptance rate is 97%. They request $25 for undergraduate applications. About 93% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. At the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts......Read more First Year Retention Rate 70 % 20.7% Acceptance Rate 97.5% SAT Score 780 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $15,381 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $20,816
6	Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus	62	91.66	860 – 1,080	6416	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 unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 74% of students attending Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus will receive institutional grant aid. At Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus, there is......Read more First Year Retention Rate 62 % Acceptance Rate 91.7% SAT Score 860 – 1,080 Avg. Net Price $6,416 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,619
7	Western New Mexico University	58	0	--	9477	31166	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico Western New Mexico University Silver City, NM First Year Retention Rate 58 % 7.4% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $9,477 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $31,166
8	University of the Southwest	55	45.39	830 – 1,050	17243	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 45% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 97% of students at the University of the Southwest currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 55 % 3.8% Acceptance Rate 45.4% SAT Score 830 – 1,050 Avg. Net Price $17,243 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,600
9	Northern New Mexico College	52	0	--	8837	34377	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico Northern New Mexico College Espanola, NM First Year Retention Rate 52 % 14.8% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $8,837 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $34,377
10	New Mexico Highlands University	50	0	--	11062	38952	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico New Mexico Highlands University Las Vegas, NM First Year Retention Rate 50 % 12.3% Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $11,062 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,952
11	Navajo Technical University	38	0	--	5301	23280	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in New Mexico Navajo Technical University Crownpoint, NM First Year Retention Rate 38 % Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $5,301 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $23,280

School data is from 2023–2024 (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

82 % 5.1%

53.2%

1,300 – 1,480

$25,209

$33,770

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

77 %

44.5%

1,080 – 1,320

$11,551

$54,530

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

76 % 4.1%

95.2%

910 – 1,180

$6,347

$37,150

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

73 % 2.7%

89.0%

890 – 1,130

$10,719

$32,960

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

70 % 20.7%

97.5%

780 – 1,010

$15,381

$20,816

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

62 %

91.7%

860 – 1,080

$6,416

$33,619

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

58 % 7.4%

--

--

$9,477

$31,166

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

55 % 3.8%

45.4%

830 – 1,050

$17,243

$36,600

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

52 % 14.8%

--

--

$8,837

$34,377

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

50 % 12.3%

--

--

$11,062

$38,952

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

38 %

--

--

$5,301

$23,280

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82 %
5.1%

76 %
4.1%

73 %
2.7%

70 %
20.7%

58 %
7.4%

55 %
3.8%

52 %
14.8%

50 %
12.3%