CNM vs. NMSU-Carlsbad

Should I go to Central New Mexico Community College or New Mexico State University Carlsbad? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CNM or NMSU-Carlsbad is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Central New Mexico Community College vs. New Mexico State University Carlsbad comparison
Central New Mexico Community College New Mexico State University Carlsbad College 3 College 4
Central New Mexico Community College
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Overview

CNM NMSU-Carlsbad
Location Albuquerque, NM Carlsbad, NM
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 19,067 1,171
Type Public 2 Year Public 2 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cnm.edu nmsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CNM NMSU-Carlsbad
Tuition (In State) $1,584 $1,176
Tuition (Out of State) $8,016 $3,816
Room & Board $8,502 $17,076
Avg Net Price $4,961 $8,126
Avg Grant Aid $5,435 $4,001
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 94%

Admission

CNM NMSU-Carlsbad
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - -
Admitted - -
Acceptance Rate Open Open
Enrolled % Open Open
Avg High School GPA - 2.75
Typical High School Grades - B-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores
Application Deadline Aug 6, 2026 Aug 27, 2026

Academics

CNM NMSU-Carlsbad
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (20%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Construction Trades (9%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (42%)
  • Health Professions (28%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (7%)
  • Construction Trades (6%)

Outcomes

CNM NMSU-Carlsbad
Graduation Rate - -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $33,300 $39,400
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 44%
Median Student Loan Debt $7,500 $17,118
Median Loan Payment $77 $176

Diversity

CNM NMSU-Carlsbad
% Men 9% 29%
% Women 11% 35%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 29% 36%
% Black 3% 1%
% Hispanic 50% 56%
% Native American 7% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 7% 3%

Students

CNM NMSU-Carlsbad
% In-State 97% 100%
% Out-of-State 3% 0%

Campus

CNM NMSU-Carlsbad
Campus Housing No No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No No
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Central New Mexico Community College is larger than than NMSU-Carlsbad based on total student enrollment (19,067 students vs. 1,171 students)

CNM vs. NMSU-Carlsbad Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CNM or NMSU-Carlsbad?

  • New Mexico State University Carlsbad is 12.1% more expensive to attend than CNM for in-state tuition ($1,776.00 vs. $1,584.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 110.1% higher at CNM than New Mexico State University Carlsbad ($8,016.00 vs. $3,816.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central New Mexico Community College than NMSU-Carlsbad ($4,961 vs. $8,126)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central New Mexico Community College are 100.8% lower than costs at New Mexico State University Carlsbad ($8,502 vs. $17,076)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central New Mexico Community College than New Mexico State University Carlsbad (97% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central New Mexico Community College students is 35.8% larger than aid received New Mexico State University Carlsbad ($5,435 vs. $4,001)

Which college is harder to get into, CNM or NMSU-Carlsbad? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NMSU-Carlsbad or CNM .

CNM vs. NMSU-Carlsbad Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CNM or NMSU-Carlsbad? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NMSU-Carlsbad and CNM.

  • Graduates from New Mexico State University Carlsbad earn on average $6,100 more per year than CNM graduates after ten years. ($39,400 vs. $33,300)
  • Central New Mexico Community College students graduate with a $9,618 lower median federal student loan debt than NMSU-Carlsbad graduates. ($7,500 vs. $17,118)
  • CNM graduates are paying $99 less per month on federal student loans than NMSU-Carlsbad graduates. ($77 vs. $176)
  • More NMSU-Carlsbad graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CNM students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 29%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/