New Mexico private colleges have it all. Not only do they boast some of the best college academic and athletic facilities in the country, but they also offer some of the most beautiful and breathtaking landscapes in the world. Just imagine studying against the backdrop of expansive deserts, snowcapped mountains, and pristine forests. Private schools, colleges, and universities in the "Land of Enchantment" offer advantages that you would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.
New Mexico private colleges and universities offer a wide range of education programs with degrees and certificates up to the doctoral level, as well as professional degrees such as law and medicine.
There are 31 colleges in New Mexico, 28 public and 3 private, offering a wide range of programs and majors. These New Mexico private colleges are diverse in character, academic emphasis, and origins. Some private colleges or schools have a religious affiliation; others are secular. Private colleges and universities may be profit or non-profit institutions. Typically, New Mexico independent colleges or private schools give more importance to individual characteristics and activities in addition to considering GPA and ACT or SAT test scores.
The largest being Santa Fe University of Art and Design with 471 full time students. St John's College is the most expensive with an in-state tuition of $44,554. On average, how much does it costs to attend private college in New Mexico? The average annual in-state private college tuition in New Mexico is $27,977 in 2013.
While many New Mexico private colleges and universities are considerably more expensive than comparable state institutions, they also tend to offer more generous financial aid packages. Many students have found the actual out-of-pocket cost to earn a degree from a private college in New Mexico to be less than the cost of the state schools to which they were accepted. On the one hand, New Mexico public colleges and universities are usually less expensive, particularly for in-state residents. State residents often qualify for lower in-state tuition rates and state education grants. They get most of their funding from the state or local government. Check out your state's Guide to Residency. New Mexico private colleges rely on tuition, fees, endowments, and other private sources of funding. On the other hand, New Mexico private colleges are usually smaller and can offer more personalized attention (and some believe, more prestige).
The Council of Independent Colleges and Universities of New Mexico functions as the state-level organization for 3 private colleges and lobbies the legislature for support for the 3 member institutions.