NMSU-Carlsbad vs. SFCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Southeast New Mexico College in Carlsbad, NM with Santa Fe Community College in Santa Fe, NM on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Fe Community College is larger than NMSU-Carlsbad based on total student enrollment (4,469 students vs. 1,431 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southeast New Mexico College is located in Carlsbad, NM (Remote Town setting); Santa Fe Community College is in Santa Fe, NM (Rural Fringe setting).
• Southeast New Mexico College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Fe Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southeast New Mexico College 12:1; Santa Fe Community College 12:1.

NMSU-Carlsbad vs. SFCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NMSU-Carlsbad or SFCC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southeast New Mexico College than SFCC ($4,917 vs. $12,429).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southeast New Mexico College are 10.9% lower than at Santa Fe Community College ($17,076 vs. $19,170).
• Santa Fe Community College is 8.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NMSU-Carlsbad (about $171 more per year; $2,139.00 vs. $1,968.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at SFCC than at Southeast New Mexico College (about $123 more per year; $4,131.00 vs. $4,008.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southeast New Mexico College than at Santa Fe Community College (82% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Fe Community College students is 94.5% larger than aid received by Southeast New Mexico College students ($6,343 vs. $3,262).

NMSU-Carlsbad vs. SFCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NMSU-Carlsbad or SFCC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SFCC and NMSU-Carlsbad.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NMSU-Carlsbad - Open admission; SFCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: NMSU-Carlsbad Aug 27, 2027.

NMSU-Carlsbad vs. SFCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NMSU-Carlsbad and SFCC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Southeast New Mexico College earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than SFCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,400 vs. $34,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Fe Community College graduates have a $2,323 lower median loan debt than NMSU-Carlsbad graduates ($14,795 vs. $17,118).
• Among borrowers, SFCC graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.