Head-to-head comparison
University of New Mexico-Main Campus vs Central New Mexico Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Albuquerque, NM
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
- Net price / year
- $15,489
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,792
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Albuquerque, NM
Central New Mexico Community College
- Net price / year
- $4,621
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,869
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of New Mexico-Main Campus comes closer — median earnings $44,792 against a $61,956 total, vs $36,869 at Central New Mexico Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of New Mexico-Main Campus | Central New Mexico Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,489 | $4,621 |
| Total net cost | $61,956 | $18,484 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,792 | $36,869 |
| Median debt | $18,450 | $6,612 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$133,316 | -$248,304 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of New Mexico-Main Campus or Central New Mexico Community College?
Central New Mexico Community College, at $4,621 a year after aid versus $15,489 — a gap of $10,868 a year, or $43,472 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of New Mexico-Main Campus or Central New Mexico Community College graduates earn more?
University of New Mexico-Main Campus graduates report a median $44,792 ten years after entry, $7,923 more than the $36,869 at Central New Mexico Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, University of New Mexico-Main Campus or Central New Mexico Community College?
Central New Mexico Community College: its completers carry a median $6,612 in federal loans versus $18,450 at University of New Mexico-Main Campus, a difference of $11,838. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
55% of students finish at University of New Mexico-Main Campus, against 31% at Central New Mexico Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.