NMSU-Carlsbad vs. SFCC

Should I go to New Mexico State University Carlsbad or Santa Fe Community College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NMSU-Carlsbad or SFCC 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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New Mexico State University Carlsbad vs. Santa Fe Community College comparison
New Mexico State University Carlsbad Santa Fe Community College College 3 College 4
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Overview

 NMSU-Carlsbad SFCC
Location Carlsbad, NM Santa Fe, NM
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 1,673 3,266
Type Public 2 Year Public 2 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nmsu.edu sfcc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 NMSU-Carlsbad SFCC
Tuition (In State) $984 $1,470
Tuition (Out of State) $3,816 $4,320
Room & Board $12,343 $18,540
Avg Net Price $8,444 $8,151
Avg Grant Aid $3,423 $5,439
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 92%

Admission

 NMSU-Carlsbad SFCC
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 27, 2025

Academics

 NMSU-Carlsbad SFCC
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (42%)
  • Health Professions (28%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (7%)
  • Construction Trades (6%)
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Personal and Culinary Services (5%)

Outcomes

 NMSU-Carlsbad SFCC
Graduation Rate - -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,400 $34,700
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 32%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,118 $14,795
Median Loan Payment $176 $152

Diversity

 NMSU-Carlsbad SFCC
% Men 36% 37%
% Women 64% 63%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 36% 35%
% Black 1% 2%
% Hispanic 56% 52%
% Native American 0% 5%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 1%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

 NMSU-Carlsbad SFCC
% In-State 93% 97%
% Out-of-State 2% 2%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Santa Fe Community College is larger than than NMSU-Carlsbad based on total student enrollment (3,266 students vs. 1,673 students)

NMSU-Carlsbad vs. SFCC Cost Comparison

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

  • Santa Fe Community College is 3% more expensive to attend than NMSU-Carlsbad for in-state tuition ($1,830.00 vs. $1,776.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.2% higher at SFCC than New Mexico State University Carlsbad ($4,320.00 vs. $3,816.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Santa Fe Community College than NMSU-Carlsbad ($8,151 vs. $8,444)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at New Mexico State University Carlsbad are 50.2% lower than costs at Santa Fe Community College ($12,343 vs. $18,540)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Santa Fe Community College than New Mexico State University Carlsbad (92% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Fe Community College students is 58.9% larger than aid received New Mexico State University Carlsbad ($5,439 vs. $3,423)

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

NMSU-Carlsbad vs. SFCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NMSU-Carlsbad or SFCC? 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 SFCC and NMSU-Carlsbad.

  • Graduates from New Mexico State University Carlsbad earn on average $4,700 more per year than SFCC graduates after ten years. ($39,400 vs. $34,700)
  • Santa Fe Community College students graduate with a $2,323 lower median federal student loan debt than NMSU-Carlsbad graduates. ($14,795 vs. $17,118)
  • SFCC graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than NMSU-Carlsbad graduates. ($152 vs. $176)
  • More NMSU-Carlsbad graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SFCC students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 32%)

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