New Mexico doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 8 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 8 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Portales came out on top.
The 8 Best College Towns In New Mexico For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where New Mexico's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,357 (28 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 11,968 |
| Median rent | $903 |
| Graduation rate | 54% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $18,940 |
Portales is home to Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus. There are 28 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $903 a month, and the average cost to attend is $18,940 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | New Mexico Highlands University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,451 (11 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 13,000 |
| Median rent | $792 |
| Graduation rate | 42% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $20,868 |
Las Vegas is home to New Mexico Highlands University. There are 11 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $792 a month, and the average cost to attend is $20,868 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 995 (12 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 8,481 |
| Median rent | $711 |
| Graduation rate | 61% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,967 |
Socorro is home to New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. There are 12 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $711 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,967 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of New Mexico-Main Campus, Brookline College-Albuquerque |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 17,786 (3 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 562,218 |
| Median rent | $1,145 |
| Graduation rate | 60% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $21,259 |
Albuquerque is home to University of New Mexico-Main Campus, Brookline College-Albuquerque. There are 3 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,145 a month, and the average cost to attend is $21,259 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Western New Mexico University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,026 (21 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 9,536 |
| Median rent | $866 |
| Graduation rate | 48% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $21,562 |
Silver City is home to Western New Mexico University. There are 21 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $866 a month, and the average cost to attend is $21,562 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | St. John's College, Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development, Southwestern College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 702 (1 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 89,019 |
| Median rent | $1,463 |
| Graduation rate | 47% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $40,339 |
Santa Fe is home to St. John's College, Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development, Southwestern College. There are 1 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,463 a month, and the average cost to attend is $40,339 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | New Mexico State University-Main Campus, Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 11,946 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 114,197 |
| Median rent | $974 |
| Graduation rate | 55% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,274 |
Las Cruces is home to New Mexico State University-Main Campus, Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $974 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,274 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of the Southwest |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 346 (1 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 40,252 |
| Median rent | $1,112 |
| Graduation rate | 40% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $28,210 |
Hobbs is home to University of the Southwest. There are 1 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,112 a month, and the average cost to attend is $28,210 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in New Mexico
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 8 towns in New Mexico that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in New Mexico.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in New Mexico.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In New Mexico
If you're looking for the best college towns in New Mexico, Portales is where to start.
The best college towns in New Mexico are Portales, Las Vegas, Socorro, Albuquerque, Silver City, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, and Hobbs.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in New Mexico for 2026?
Portales is the best college town in New Mexico for 2026, followed by Las Vegas and Socorro.
How did you rank the best college towns in New Mexico?
We looked at every town in New Mexico with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in New Mexico?
Hobbs ranks last of the 8 college towns we ranked in New Mexico for 2026.
Best College Towns In New Mexico For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portales, NM | 11,968 | 3,357 | $903 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NM | 13,000 | 1,451 | $792 |
| 3 | Socorro, NM | 8,481 | 995 | $711 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | 562,218 | 17,786 | $1,145 |
| 5 | Silver City, NM | 9,536 | 2,026 | $866 |
| 6 | Santa Fe, NM | 89,019 | 702 | $1,463 |
| 7 | Las Cruces, NM | 114,197 | 11,946 | $974 |
| 8 | Hobbs, NM | 40,252 | 346 | $1,112 |
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