Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education Programs in New Mexico

All 7 Elementary Education bachelor's-level programs in New Mexico, ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.

A bachelor's in elementary education is the standard credential behind a New Mexico teaching license, and New Mexico has 7 accredited elementary education bachelor's programs to compare. This ranking scores every one on the outcomes that actually affect your return: graduation rate, in-state affordability, and selectivity, all pulled from the public federal IPEDS database. New Mexico State University-Main Campus ranks first with a score of 78, on a 55 percent graduation rate.

Elementary school teachers in New Mexico earn a median of $74,550 a year according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, against a national median of $63,970. Each section below covers a specific decision point, cost and real ROI, New Mexico licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in New Mexico on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.

7Programs analyzed
$4,194 to $16,470/yrIn-state tuition
$74,550/yrMedian elementary school teacher pay in New Mexico
New Mexico State University-Main CampusTop-ranked

← Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education nationally

Elementary Education bachelor's-level programs in New Mexico, compared by score
1New Mexico State University-Main Campus78
2Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus68
3Western New Mexico University53
4University of New Mexico-Main Campus45
5Northern New Mexico College42
6New Mexico Highlands University40
7University of the Southwest15
  1. 1

    New Mexico State University-Main Campus

    Las Cruces, NMPublicOnline available

    78score
    • 55%Grad rate
    • $6,283/yrIn-state tuition
    • $23,407/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 89%Admit rate
    • 12,507Undergrads
    • 49Grads/yr
    • 990SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Education, Elementary Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    New Mexico State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education through the School of Teacher Preparation, Administration, and Leadership. The on-campus program lets students choose a K-8 teaching field in language arts, math, science, or social studies, and it embeds bilingual and TESOL endorsements. Candidates complete extensive field experience and a student teaching placement or a one-year residency, and the degree leads to New Mexico teacher licensure. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. Its strongest card is completion: a 55% graduation rate lands it in the top 17% of New Mexico programs, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 89%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $6,283 in state, above the New Mexico median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.

    Program page
  2. 2

    Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus

    Portales, NMPublicOnline available

    68score
    • 45%Grad rate
    • $4,194/yrIn-state tuition
    • $6,174/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 92%Admit rate
    • 4,239Undergrads
    • 28Grads/yr
    • 945SAT mid
    • Elementary Education/Special Education (Blended) - Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Education with Elementary and Special Education Licensure
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Eastern New Mexico University offers a blended Elementary and Special Education bachelor's degree, awarded as a B.A. or B.S. in Education, that lets candidates earn two credentials from a single course of study. Through the Department of Educational Studies in the College of Education and Technology, students graduate with dual licensure in Elementary (K-8) and Special Education (preK-12), which the program frames as two licenses for the price of one affordable degree. The coursework is broad by design, moving across foundations, technology, bilingual and special education, reading, and elementary methods, and it is taught by faculty who have worked in public schools themselves. Extensive field experiences keep the learning tied to real classrooms, and the blended format gives students flexibility in how they complete it. Because New Mexico's license carries reciprocity with many states and territories, graduates have room to teach beyond state lines. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among New Mexico's 7 ranked bachelor's-level programs, at $4,194. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in New Mexico.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. Start with the outcome that matters most, 45% of students graduate, top 33% among New Mexico programs, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Admission is close to open access at 92%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $4,194 in state, tuition runs below the New Mexico median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.

    Program page
  3. 3

    Western New Mexico University

    Silver City, NMPublicOnline available

    53score
    • 32%Grad rate
    • $4,914/yrIn-state tuition
    • $11,400/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 2,629Undergrads
    • 21Grads/yr
    • Elementary Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Western New Mexico University offers a fully online Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its College of Education, which holds CAEP accreditation for its initial licensure programs. Students combine general and upper-division coursework with a professional core and a teaching field such as mathematics, general science, reading, or social studies. The program ends with a practice teaching or teacher residency experience and leads to New Mexico licensure with an elementary endorsement. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in New Mexico.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among New Mexico programs at 32%, solid without being a standout. Tuition is middle of the road for New Mexico programs at $4,914 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.

    Program page
  4. 4

    University of New Mexico-Main Campus

    Albuquerque, NMPublic

    45score
    • 55%Grad rate
    • $8,502/yrIn-state tuition
    • $31,422/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 95%Admit rate
    • 17,450Undergrads
    • 50Grads/yr
    • 1030SAT mid
    • Elementary Education, B.S.Ed.
    About the program

    The Elementary Education B.S.Ed. at the University of New Mexico prepares candidates for K-8 licensure through the Department of Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy in the College of Education and Human Sciences. Candidates complete field experience placements with cooperating teachers coordinated through COEHS Field Services, and the program allows students to add minors alongside the degree. Faculty, Field Services staff, and advisors work with candidates on professional development and teaching dispositions. It awards more bachelor's-level elementary education degrees than any of New Mexico's 7 ranked bachelor's-level programs, 50 in the most recent year. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. Start with the outcome that matters most, 55% of students graduate, top 17% among New Mexico programs, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Admission is close to open access at 95%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $8,502 in state, above the New Mexico median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.

    Program page
  5. 5

    Northern New Mexico College

    Espanola, NMPublicOnline available

    42score
    • 29%Grad rate
    • $5,064/yrIn-state tuition
    • $14,328/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 1,425Undergrads
    • 4Grads/yr
    • Elementary Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Northern New Mexico College's Elementary Education leads to a Bachelor of Arts preparing candidates to teach grades K-8. All education coursework is delivered online by certified faculty through the Teacher Education Department. Candidates complete a Teacher Residency Program, a structured two-semester placement alongside a master teacher that progressively builds classroom responsibilities. The program is designed to support and address the Yazzie/Martinez findings, a New Mexico education-equity court case, and prepares candidates to work in multicultural and multilingual settings. It holds accreditation from the New Mexico Public Education Department (Spring 2022) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (April 2024). Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among New Mexico programs at 29%, solid without being a standout. Tuition is middle of the road for New Mexico programs at $5,064 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  6. 6

    New Mexico Highlands University

    Las Vegas, NMPublicOnline available

    40score
    • 26%Grad rate
    • $4,888/yrIn-state tuition
    • $9,808/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 1,603Undergrads
    • 22Grads/yr
    • Elementary Education
    About the program

    New Mexico Highlands University's Elementary Education bachelor's degree, offered through its School of Education, prepares candidates for New Mexico licensure while placing real weight on reaching diverse learners. The 120-credit plan pairs a 36-hour major with a substantial 57-hour education core, and every elementary major also completes a required minor in ESL, TESOL, or Bilingual Education, signaling how central multilingual classrooms are to the program. Fieldwork is woven through three sequential teacher-preparation courses and culminates in a six-credit elementary placement, so candidates spend roughly nine credit hours in classrooms before finishing. Along the way, they must pass the NES Assessment of Basic Skills and the NES Elementary Content Exam, with further NES exams required for state licensure. It is a structured, classroom-focused route into elementary teaching. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in New Mexico.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 26% the graduation rate trails the New Mexico median, which caps how high it can climb. Tuition is middle of the road for New Mexico programs at $4,888 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  7. 7

    University of the Southwest

    Hobbs, NMPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    15score
    • 17%Grad rate
    • $16,470/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 346Undergrads
    • 4Grads/yr
    • Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) in Elementary Education, with specialization options in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of the Southwest offers a Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education through its College of Education, with four specialization tracks in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. The licensure program combines theoretical instruction with hands-on teaching practice, and students may also apply for the New Experienced Teachers (NExT+) Program and the Educator Preparation Program. All undergraduate programs are offered both in person and online. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of New Mexico's elementary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 17% the graduation rate trails the New Mexico median, which caps how high it can climb. The one drag is price, $16,470 in state, above the New Mexico median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page

Key facts about a bachelor's in Elementary Education in New Mexico

  • New Mexico has 7 accredited bachelor's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
  • New Mexico State University-Main Campus ranks first among elementary education bachelor's programs in New Mexico with a score of 78, on a 55 percent graduation rate.
  • Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus is the most affordable bachelor's in elementary education in New Mexico, at $4,194 a year in-state tuition.
  • Elementary school teachers in New Mexico earn a median of $74,550 a year (BLS), ranking New Mexico 18 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
  • 6 of the bachelor's in elementary education programs in New Mexico offer an online or hybrid option.
  • New Mexico requires the Praxis licensure exam, administered through New Mexico Public Education Department, Professional Licensure Bureau, to earn a teaching license.

What a bachelor's in elementary education costs in New Mexico (2026)

Published in-state tuition for a bachelor's in elementary education in New Mexico runs from $4,194 to $16,470 a year across the 7 programs we rank, with a median of $5,064. The most affordable is Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus at $4,194 a year. These are published sticker rates from IPEDS; most future teachers bring the net figure down with the Pell Grant, the federal TEACH Grant, and state teacher-preparation aid, so weigh net price, not the sticker.

Cost only means something next to completion. The elementary education programs ranked here average a 37 percent graduation rate, and a lower-priced program where fewer students finish is not necessarily the cheaper path to a degree. Compare tuition and graduation rate together above.

Sources: IPEDS tuition data

What elementary school teachers earn in New Mexico

Elementary school teachers in New Mexico earn a median of $74,550 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $63,970. That ranks New Mexico 18 of 51 states and territories for elementary school teachers pay. Nationally, pay for this occupation spans roughly $47,960 at the 10th percentile to $104,340 at the 90th, with a master's degree, years in the classroom, and the local district salary schedule driving the climb.

The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 2 percent decline in elementary school teachers employment nationally from 2024 to 2034, with about 103,800 openings a year as teachers retire or change careers. A bachelor's in elementary education in New Mexico is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.

Sources: BLS OEWS wages, BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

How to get a New Mexico teaching license

To teach in New Mexico you need a bachelor's in elementary education (or a bachelor's plus an approved preparation program), a supervised student-teaching placement, and a New Mexico teaching license issued by New Mexico Public Education Department, Professional Licensure Bureau. New Mexico calls the initial credential the Level 1 (Provisional) Teaching License, and earning it means passing Praxis (The Praxis Series) plus a background check.

The former NMTA/NES (Pearson) testing program has been discontinued; only limited Praxis tests remain required. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.

Sources: New Mexico educator certification, Praxis exam

Choosing an accredited elementary education program in New Mexico

Pick a bachelor's in elementary education in New Mexico that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the New Mexico Department of Education, ideally with CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation. State approval is what lets the degree count toward a New Mexico teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in New Mexico.

Sources: CAEP accreditation

Online and hybrid elementary education programs in New Mexico

6 of the bachelor's in elementary education programs in New Mexico offer an online or hybrid option. Online teacher-preparation still requires in-person student teaching, so these formats suit working adults and career changers who can complete supervised classroom hours locally while taking coursework online. An online bachelor's in elementary education from a state-approved, CAEP-accredited program leads to the same New Mexico teaching license as an on-campus degree; the diploma does not distinguish the format.

Frequently asked questions about a bachelor's in Elementary Education in New Mexico

How many bachelor's in elementary education programs are in New Mexico?

There are 7 accredited bachelor's in elementary education programs in New Mexico in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.

What is the most affordable bachelor's in elementary education in New Mexico?

Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus is the most affordable bachelor's in elementary education in New Mexico, at $4,194 a year in in-state tuition.

How much do elementary school teachers make in New Mexico?

Elementary school teachers in New Mexico earn a median of $74,550 a year, according to <a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252021.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics</a>, versus $63,970 nationally.

What exam do you need to teach in New Mexico?

New Mexico requires the Praxis (The Praxis Series) licensure exam, administered for New Mexico Public Education Department, Professional Licensure Bureau. See the <a href="https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/newmexico-overview.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">official exam page</a> for current test requirements.

Is a bachelor's in elementary education worth it in New Mexico?

For most future teachers, yes. A bachelor's in elementary education in New Mexico is the standard credential for a New Mexico teaching license, and it leads to a median elementary school teachers salary of $74,550 a year in New Mexico. Compare graduation rate and net price above to find the best value in 2026.

These are the best bachelor's in elementary education programs in New Mexico for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 7 bachelor's in elementary education in New Mexico above by graduation rate, tuition, and selectivity, then open each program page to take the next step toward teaching in an elementary school classroom in New Mexico.

Sources

Elementary Education in other states