7 accredited programs at 6 schools in New Mexico, ranked for 2027: automotive and aviation maintenance. Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, NM has the highest score, and automotive service technicians and mechanics here earn a median $47,300.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
7 ranked programs at 6 schools in New Mexico: 5 automotive and 2 aviation maintenance.
Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, NM scores highest, 59.1 out of 100 (automotive).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $47,300 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in New Mexico.
Published prices run from $1,592 a year, in-district (Clovis Community College) to $2,322 a year, in-district (New Mexico State University-Dona Ana).
6 of 6 ranked mechanic schools in New Mexico are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in New Mexico
These mechanic schools in New Mexico run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Automotive Technology
Central New Mexico Community College
Albuquerque, NM
Score59.1
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate of Applied Science
Cost
$2,060a year, in-state
Graduation rate
31%within 150% of normal time
Auto technician pay in New Mexico
$47,300median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$48,861median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Why it ranks here
Ranked #95 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Earns its place with a price toward the low end of ranked automotive programs ($2,060 a year, in-state) and 144 awards in 2024-25, among the larger automotive programs.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard, the ASE accreditation list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Automotive Technology
San Juan College
Farmington, NM
Score58.3
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Automotive Technology, 2 years
GM ASEP
Mopar CAP
Cost
$1,928a year, in-state
Graduation rate
37%within 150% of normal time
Awards
76in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #106 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Scores well on a price toward the low end of ranked automotive programs ($1,928 a year, in-state) and 76 awards in 2024-25.
5 ranked automotive programs at 5 schools in New Mexico. Central New Mexico Community College (Albuquerque, NM) leads and stands #95 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 59.1. Clovis Community College is the lowest priced at $1,592 a year, in-district, against $2,322 a year, in-district at New Mexico State University-Dona Ana. Automotive programs are taught in Albuquerque, NM, Farmington, NM, Clovis, NM, Santa Fe, NM and Las Cruces, NM. The best completion rate, 37% within 150% of normal time, belongs to the program in Farmington, NM. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $47,300 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in New Mexico, $3,320 below the national median of $50,620.
2 ranked aviation maintenance programs at 2 schools in New Mexico. Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus (Roswell, NM) is the best of them at #105 of 148 nationally (lower half), with 46.7 points. Central New Mexico Community College is the lowest priced at $2,060 a year, in-state, against $2,256 a year, in-district at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus. Aviation maintenance programs are taught in Roswell, NM and Albuquerque, NM. The program graduated 32% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 47 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $84,440 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in New Mexico, $4,570 above the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 5,080 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in New Mexico, a denser market than the national average. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $New Mexico above.
BLS median pay in New Mexico by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$47,300
under $30,390
over $77,850
5,080
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$55,910
under $37,860
over $83,260
1,740
$61,770
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$84,440
under $49,690
over $99,020
860
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Albuquerque, NM at $48,820 (2,320 jobs), Las Cruces, NM at $45,690 (420 jobs) and Farmington, NM at $46,660 (400 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Albuquerque, NM at $59,140 (630 jobs) and Farmington, NM at $52,000 (200 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Albuquerque, NM at $78,730 (390 jobs) and Las Cruces, NM at $77,650 (70 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in New Mexico has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
For 2027, Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, NM has the highest score of the 7 ranked programs in New Mexico, 59.1 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in New Mexico, the leaders by trade are Central New Mexico Community College (automotive) and Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus (aviation maintenance). All six are public institutions.
Which mechanic schools in New Mexico are accredited?
The 6 ranked mechanic schools in New Mexico hold ASE Education Foundation accreditation in automotive and FAA Part 147 certification for aviation maintenance, and each met the federal entry bar for the ranking.
How much do mechanics make in New Mexico?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in New Mexico earn a median of $47,300, $3,320 below the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $55,910, $5,860 below the national median of $61,770. These are medians for wage and salary workers in the occupation, not starting pay.
How much do mechanic schools in New Mexico cost?
Among the mechanic schools in New Mexico with a published price, tuition and fees run from $1,592 a year, in-district at Clovis Community College (Clovis, NM) to $2,322 a year, in-district at New Mexico State University-Dona Ana (Las Cruces, NM). The median across the state is about $2,060 a year.
Sources for New Mexico Mechanic School Rankings
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Completions (awards July 2024 to June 2025, provisional), tuition and fees for 2024-25, graduation rates within 150% of normal time and the institutional directory.
This site earns money from sponsored school listings served by the education ad network Esyoh, which are marked as ads wherever they appear. Schools pay to appear in those listings, not in the rankings: a listing is not scored, and no listing can change a ranking. Rankings come from published records, and program details from each school’s own published pages.
