New Mexico college graduates are among the most likely in the United States to achieve economic security and upward mobility, according to a recent national study. The 2025 “State Opportunity Index” from the Strada Education Foundation found that 70 percent of New Mexico’s college graduates see a positive return on investment (ROI) over a decade. This means that these graduates earn more than peers with only a high school diploma and that their ten-year earnings exceed what they spent on their degrees.
Only 14 states have more than 70 percent of graduates achieving this positive ROI, putting New Mexico alongside Alaska, Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Washington. Across all states measured in the study, the percentage of graduates with a positive ROI ranges from 53 percent to 82 percent.
New Mexico also received top marks for affordability at public two-year colleges and was recognized for strong affordability at four-year institutions. These results highlight ongoing efforts in the state to improve access and reduce costs for higher education.
“Our commitment to expanding access to higher education is centered around the idea that no one working toward a better career should be saddled with debt,” said Higher Education Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez. “Alongside that goal is ensuring students have what they need to succeed once they’ve chosen their path. We are gratified when the metrics reflect that we’re heading in the right direction, but we want to continue showing that New Mexico can and will lead the way in high-quality, accessible higher education with family-sustaining wages right here at home.”
The report also notes New Mexico’s performance in areas such as access and alignment of postsecondary pathways. These achievements are linked to programs like the Opportunity Scholarship—the first statewide initiative in the U.S. providing tuition-free college regardless of income for all residents.
More details about these findings can be found in Strada Education Foundation’s full report at https://www.strada.org/state-opportunity-index.
