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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Early Childhood Education Schools in New Mexico

4 Colleges in the United States
375 Early Childhood Education Degrees Awarded
$37,154 Avg Early-Career Salary

Early Childhood Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools to find the best for early childhood education students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Early Childhood Education in New Mexico

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the early childhood education degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Early Childhood Education

1

Leading the list is Central New Mexico Community College, our #1 school for early childhood education. This very large public university is located in the city of Albuquerque. About 86 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Central New Mexico Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Central New Mexico Community College earn around $29,708 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,625. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Central New Mexico Community College

2

A rank of #2 makes New Mexico State University Main Campus one of the top schools for early childhood education. This large public university is located in the suburb of Las Cruces. New Mexico State University Main Campus graduates 55% of students within six years. About 45 early childhood education degrees were awarded at New Mexico State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,888 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,705 to complete this degree. See the full early childhood education program report for New Mexico State University Main Campus

3

Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus graduates 39% of students within six years. About 25 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus in the most recent year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earn a median of $41,896 early in their careers. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Read more about the early childhood education program at Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus

4

Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at New Mexico State University Dona Ana, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public institution. About 78 early childhood education degrees were awarded at New Mexico State University Dona Ana in the most recent year. Graduates of the early childhood education program make about $39,399 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,284. See the full early childhood education program report for New Mexico State University Dona Ana

5

Students looking for a strong early childhood education program will find one at Santa Fe Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the rural area of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 40 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Santa Fe Community College in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Santa Fe Community College earn a median of $43,305 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,185. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Santa Fe Community College

6

Northern New Mexico College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Located in the town of Espanola, Northern New Mexico College is a small public university. Northern New Mexico College graduates 31% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Northern New Mexico College in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in early childhood education from Northern New Mexico College

7

Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus came in at #7 for early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Roswell, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a mid-sized public university. Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus awarded about 12 early childhood education degrees in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus earn a median of $21,129 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,110 to complete this degree. See the full early childhood education program report for Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus

8

Clovis Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best early childhood education schools. Clovis Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Clovis. About 36 early childhood education degrees were awarded at Clovis Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their early childhood education degree from Clovis Community College earn around $44,390 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,082. See the full early childhood education program report for Clovis Community College

9

Mesalands Community College came in at #9 for early childhood education this year. Located in the town of Tucumcari, Mesalands Community College is a small public university. There were roughly 10 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Mesalands Community College in the most recent data year. Early Childhood Education graduates of Mesalands Community College earn a median of $35,517 early in their careers. Read more about the early childhood education program at Mesalands Community College

10

Navajo Technical College came in at #10 for early childhood education this year. Set in the rural area of Crownpoint, Navajo Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 18% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 early childhood education students who graduated with this degree at Navajo Technical College in the most recent data year. Read more about the early childhood education program at Navajo Technical College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 23 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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