Small Community, Great Opportunity

As an Hispanic- and Indigenous-serving institution, Northern has served the rural communities of Northern New Mexico for generations. Since opening in 1909 as the Spanish American Normal School in El Rito, NM, the College has provided affordable, open access to quality academic programs to meet educational, economic and cultural needs of the region.

Now one of the state’s four regional comprehensive institutions, with its main campus in Española, Northern offers more than 50 bachelor’s, associate, and certificate programs in arts, film & human sciences, STEM programs, business, education, liberal arts, and nursing. The College has reintroduced technical trades in partnership with two local unions and five public school districts through its new co-located Branch Community College, the first of its kind in the state’s history.  Northern is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and has earned prestigious program specific accreditations for its engineering, nursing, education, and business programs.

 

Northern By the Numbers

1stNorthern is the first HSI in the U.S.
12:1Student to Faculty Ratio
82%HIspanic & Native Students
#1Most affordable 4-year college in the Southwest

Building a new Strategic Plan: “Soaring to New Heights 2028”

MISSION

Northern New Mexico College is an inclusive, student-centered teaching and learning community, dedicated to excellence, empowering students, and transforming lives.

VISION

As a Hispanic- and Indigenous-serving institution, sustained by place, culture, and innovation — Northern is a beacon of higher education for all students, igniting minds to create vibrant futures.

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Meet President Balderas, JD, CFE

President Hector Balderas brings many years of experience in public service to his new role at Northern, working to build coalitions and unify opposing constituencies. Personally, and professionally, he is a champion of the underserved, those whose voices are not normally heard. Balderas began his term in, January 2023, as Northern’s 22nd president, after serving two terms as New Mexico Attorney General.

Office of the President

Northern’s Administration
& Board of Regents

Our leadership teams are dedicated to our inclusive, student-centered mission to ensure that Northern remains a beacon of educational opportunity, academic excellence and community engagement in northern New Mexico. We are committed to fostering an environment where every student has the support they need to thrive and succeed.

Northern Leadership

Our Place &
Over a Century of History

NORTHERN is home to two campus, located in one of the most unique and vibrant regions of the U.S, known for its great cultural diversity and stunning high-desert landscapes and ecologies. Our legacy campus in El Rito, NM, where our history began over a century ago, is set in an historic park within the Carson National Forest. Our main campus is located in Española, NM, in the heart of Pueblo country and one of the oldest Spanish settlements in the nation.  

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Northern's Branch Community College & Board

Northern has partnered with five local public school districts — Española, Pojoaque Valley, Chama, Mesa Vista, and Jemez Mountain — to establish the Northern New Mexico College Branch Community College District. which was passed unanimously by the New Mexico Legislature in 2019 and signed into law by the Governor.

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