Latino College Completion - New Mexico

Overview

Nationally, Latino student enrollment and degree completion continues to increase. However, different patterns emerge within each state. For example, New Mexico has the highest percentage of Latinos in the United States compared to other states, yet lags in Latinos’ degree completion and overall degree attainment at both the state and national level.

To find out more, scroll below.

  

Degree Attainment for Latino Students (2017-2018), New Mexico

23%
Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher
VS
51%
of White adults

New Mexico Fast Facts

New Mexico had the 9th largest Latino population in the U.S.

Latino Population

61%
K-12 Population
49%
Total Population

Median Age

32
Latinos
51
White

2-Year Graduation Rate

29%
Latino Students
36%
White Students

4-Year Graduation Rate

41%
Latino Students
52%
White Students

Degree Outcomes

At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 7%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in New Mexico.

At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 11%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in New Mexico.

Latino College Completion Degree Outcomes

Top New Mexico Institutions

Enrolling: Top Institutions (Hispanic Undergraduates) in New Mexico, 2018-2019

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 Central New Mexico Community College Public, 2-year 23,553 12,135 52%
2 University of New Mexico-Main Campus Public, 4-year or above 18,621 8,909 48%
3 New Mexico State University-Main Campus Public, 4-year or above 11,687 7,113 61%
4 New Mexico State University-Dona Ana Public, 2-year 7,876 5,714 73%
5 Santa Fe Community College Public, 2-year 4,207 2,041 49%

Associates Degrees: Top Institutions Awarding to Hispanics in New Mexico, 2017-2018

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 Central New Mexico Community College Public, 2-year 3,820 1,855 49%
2 New Mexico State University-Dona Ana Public, 2-year 924 649 70%
3 Santa Fe Community College Public, 2-year 336 173 51%
4 San Juan College Public, 2-year 800 124 16%
5 New Mexico Junior College Public, 2-year 268 121 45%

Bachelors Degrees: Top Institutions Awarding to Hispanics in New Mexico, 2017-2018

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 University of New Mexico-Main Campus Public, 4-year or above 4,004 1,813 45%
2 New Mexico State University-Main Campus Public, 4-year or above 2,322 1,258 54%
3 New Mexico Highlands University Public, 4-year or above 520 288 55%
4 Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus Public, 4-year or above 725 271 37%
5 Western New Mexico University Public, 4-year or above 273 131 48%

Examples of What Works for Latino Students

Here are some institutions showing success in enrolling, retaining, and graduating Latino students:

Sources

Excelencia in Education. (2020). Ensuring America’s Future: Benchmarking Latino College Completion to 2030. Excelencia in Education. Washington, D.C.

US. Census Bureau, Projected Race and Hispanic Origin: Main Projections Series for the United States, 2017-2060.

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision. (Medium variant). 

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population by Hispanic Origin for the United States and States: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2018.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 

Excelencia in Education analysis using U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2018 Fall Enrollment, Graduation Rates Survey and Institutional Characteristics Survey.