New Mexico Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

Anyone looking to become a teacher in New Mexico must complete a teacher preparation program from an accredited school in order to be eligible for employment in the state. The guide below is designed to provide key information to help you research the various options for pursuing a teaching degree in New Mexico. In order to find the teaching school in the state that meets your career goals, take a look at our lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews. Whether you are a first-time college student or are looking to start a new career as a teacher, use this guide to help you find the best program for your individual needs.

Table of Contents

• Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
• Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs
• Select Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees
• Schools with Associate Degrees in Education
• Student Reviews

Quick Facts

• There are 27 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in New Mexico.¹
• 22 schools offer an associate’s degree in education.¹
• 8 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in education.¹
• 7 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹
• No schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2022.²
• 2 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2023.³
• 2 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022.⁴
• 5 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.⁵

For not-for-profit schools with teacher degree programs.

Comparison of New Mexico Schools with Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in New Mexico according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.

While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states.

You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution, for both traditional and alternative programs, for the 2018-2019 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education reports under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality. Traditional teacher preparation programs are usually completed as part of a bachelor’s degree program. Alternative certification programs are typically designed for career changers looking to enter the field and lead to a postgraduate certificate or a master’s degree. Many schools in our table offer both traditional and alternative programs. Take a look at our New Mexico traditional and alternative certification guides for more information.

Finally, we have provided the net price per year for undergraduate tuition, based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).

• — indicates none or not applicable.
• N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.

Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in New Mexico

US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2023

• University of New Mexico (#89 tie)
• New Mexico State University (#121 tie)

US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022

• University of New Mexico (#120 tie)
• New Mexico State University (#221 tie)

Select New Mexico Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees

University of New Mexico

Located in Albuquerque, the University of New Mexico (UNM) is home to the state’s flagship College of Education & Human Sciences (COEHS). Undergraduate students may choose from the following programs: a Bachelor of Science in Education (BSEd) in Elementary Education, a Bachelor of Arts in Education (BAEd) or BSEd in Secondary Education, or a BSEd in Special Education. Graduate offerings include Master of Arts (MA) programs in Elementary or Secondary Education, with tracks for both experienced teachers and those pursuing initial licensure. UNM also offers fully-online MA degrees in Elementary or Secondary Education (with a focus on Educational Technology) or Educational Leadership. At the doctoral level, UNM offers a Doctor of Education (EdD) program in Educational Leadership; an EdD or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education; and a PhD in Special Education.

New Mexico State University

New Mexico State University (NMSU) is a public state-funded university that serves as one of New Mexico’s flagship institutions along with the University of New Mexico. Located in Las Cruces, NMSU is home to the School of Teacher Preparation, Administration, and Leadership. Undergraduate students interested in obtaining licensure may choose from four Bachelor of Science in Education (BSEd) degrees: Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Special Education, or Secondary Education (concentrations in Science, Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies). Non-licensure-track undergrads may be interested in the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Educational Leadership. Graduate students pursuing licensure can choose from Teacher Education Programs (TEP): a Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) degrees in Early Childhood, Elementary, or Secondary Education or a Master of Arts (MA) in Special Education (SPED). Licensed teachers looking to transition to leadership or administrative roles may be interested in NMSU’s MAEd programs including Curriculum and Instruction/Multicultural Education (also offered to non-licensed students); Learning Design and Technology; or Language, Literature and Culture. NMSU also features several online graduate and doctoral programs, including an MAEd in Education and Design in Learning Technologies; an MA in Educational Administration; and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Curriculum & Instruction.

Schools with Associate Degrees in Education

While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate’s degree can be the first step towards a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred towards a bachelor’s degree. The following Alabama schools offer associate’s degrees in education.¹ Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.

Central New Mexico Community College*
525 Buena Vista Dr SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
(505) 224-3000
www.cnm.edu

Clovis Community College
417 Schepps Blvd
Clovis, NM 88101
(505) 769-2811
www.clovis.edu

Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College
709 Mechem Dr
Ruidoso, NM 88345
(575) 257-2120
www.ruidoso.enmu.edu

Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus
52 University Blvd
Roswell, NM 88203
(505) 624-7000
www.roswell.enmu.edu

Luna Community College
336 Luna Dr
Las Vegas, NM 87701
(505) 454-2500
www.luna.edu

Mesalands Community College
911 S 10th St
Tucumcari, NM 88401
(575) 461-4413
www.mesalands.edu

Navajo Technical University*
Lowerpoint Rd State Hwy 371
Crownpoint, NM 87313
(505) 786-4100
www.navajotech.edu

New Mexico Highlands University*
1005 Diamond St
Las Vegas, NM 87701
(877) 850-9064
www.nmhu.edu

New Mexico Junior College*
5317 N Lovington Hwy
Hobbs, NM 88240
(575) 392-4510
www.nmjc.edu

New Mexico State University-Alamogordo
2400 N Scenic Dr
Alamogordo, NM 88310
(575) 439-3600
www.nmsua.edu

New Mexico State University-Carlsbad
1500 University Dr
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-9200
www.carlsbad.nmsu.edu

New Mexico State University-Dona Ana Community College
3400 Espina St
Las Cruces, NM 88003
(575) 527-7500
www.dacc.nmsu.edu

New Mexico State University-Grants
1500 3rd St
Grants, NM 87020
(505) 287-6678
www.grants.nmsu.edu

Northern New Mexico College*
921 Paseo de Onate
Espanola, NM 87532
(505) 747-2100
www.nnmc.edu

San Juan College*
4601 College Blvd
Farmington, NM 87402
(505) 326-3311
www.sanjuancollege.edu

Santa Fe Community College*
6401 Richards Ave
Santa Fe, NM 87508
(505) 428-1000
www.sfcc.edu

Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
9169 Coors Blvd NW
Albuquerque, NM 87120
(505) 346-2347
www.sipi.edu

University of New Mexico-Gallup
705 Gurley Ave
Gallup, NM 87301
(505) 863-7500
www.gallup.unm.edu

University of New Mexico-Los Alamos
4000 University Dr
Los Alamos, NM 87544
(505) 662-5919
www.losalamos.unm.edu

University of New Mexico-Taos
157 Co Rd 110
Ranchos De Taos, NM 87557
(855) 357-3725
www.taos.unm.edu

University of New Mexico-Valencia
280 La Entrada Rd
Los Lunas, NM 87031
(505) 925-8500
www.valencia.unm.edu

Western New Mexico University*
1000 W College Ave
Silver City, NM 88061
(505) 538-6336
www.wnmu.edu

Student Reviews

University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
(505) 277-0111
https://www.unm.edu/

Student Review: “While I’m still in the program, the capabilities that this program provides for continual learning are fantastic. I love that not only am I learning general education information, but learning about so many disabilities, the ways to differentiate instruction due to disabilities, and all of the observation time I’m getting in the schools. Sometimes it seems that there’s just so much information being packed into once a week courses so that there’s no way to learn it all. But getting to at least touch on it all is really fantastic. I really enjoy having instructors that use differentiated methods to teach us how to use them ourselves – it’s something no book could tell us. I think the staff UNM has are really experts in their field.” -Jennifer B., student at University of New Mexico

Student Review: “My classes in the secondary education teacher preparation program gave me big ideas about the future of American education. Unfortunately, once I actually got into the classroom for my student teaching, I found the reality of teaching to be much different. The program focused heavily on educational theory but lacked in practical experience. My Math for Secondary Educators course was interesting as a math class but focused on advanced topics that aren’t a part of the standard 7-12 curriculum, so I would never actually get to teach them. I also learned almost nothing about classroom management, which I struggled with in the classroom. I did love the program’s emphasis on social justice and multicultural education, as well as ensuring all teachers have a strong introduction to special education and inclusive classrooms. I also like that they scheduled courses conveniently for teachers, with a strong schedule of summer and evening courses–I was able to work full time while finishing my degree.” – Student at University of New Mexico

University of New Mexico-Gallup
705 Gurley Ave
Gallup, NM 87301
(505) 863-7500
https://www.gallup.unm.edu/

Student Review: “I attended UNM-Gallup as an adult returning college student, having left college previously. I was working as an educational assistant and wanted to get my teaching degree. Gallup’s campus offered me what I needed to complete my schooling while working full time and raising a child. There were plenty of evening hours and a daycare on campus. My biggest complaint was with the advising at the Gallup branch. I informed my adviser when I began that I wanted to earn my certification in secondary education. He assured me that, while Gallup currently only had elementary education, the secondary program would be up and running by the time I needed higher level classes. That never happened, so I ended up needing to commute 3 hours to the main campus in Albuquerque for some of my classes. Also, as changes to the program requirements were made, rather than “grandfather” students who had already been enrolled in the program, the school made us earn the newly required credits in addition to the ones we already had.” – Student at University of New Mexico-Gallup

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2022 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2021.
3. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2023: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
5. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
6. US Department of Education 2020 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx