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Mesalands Community College
Tucumcari, New Mexico · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 911 S Tenth Street, Tucumcari, NM 88401 · Phone: (575) 461-6600 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, since lifted — Feb 2024 · Probation · Higher Learning Commission; Feb 2026 · Accreditation Reaffirmed: Probation Removed. 12 sanction actions in the window.
Mesalands Community College is a public trade school in Tucumcari, New Mexico, offering CNC and machining programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Mesalands Community College has a 42.1% completion rate, near the New Mexico state average of 42.9%, and graduates earn a median of $32,272 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median graduate debt is not reported for this campus.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Mesalands Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and 17.1% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machinists | $39,250 | $59,440 | $72,690 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in New Mexico (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 19 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Mesalands Community College is a public trade and career school in Tucumcari, New Mexico, located in a remote-town setting. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, applies here since the school participates in Title IV programs. The campus is best known for its CNC and machining programs, which accounted for 20 completions among its trade offerings, drawn from a total of 2 program families and an undergraduate enrollment of 411 students.
Looking at outcomes, the completion rate at Mesalands is 42.1%, which sits near the New Mexico state average of 42.9%. Graduates who entered programs here earn a median of $32,272 ten years after entry, according to federal data. Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data, and annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 17.1% of students at Mesalands receive Pell Grants, indicating a portion of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.
This campus may suit students interested in hands-on CNC and machining training in a small, remote-town environment, though specific program lengths are not detailed in the data provided, so fit for adult career-changers cannot be confirmed beyond the general program focus. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the Higher Learning Commission and review detailed federal outcome data through the College Scorecard before enrolling, since figures such as debt and cost are not available here.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Mesalands Community College offers CNC and machining programs, which accounted for 20 completions. The school lists 2 program families in total.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Mesalands Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and its accreditation status is listed as accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants. About 17.1% of students currently receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate at Mesalands is 42.1%, which is near the New Mexico state average of 42.9%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (575) 461-6600 or check the College Scorecard for updates.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Graduates of Mesalands Community College earn a median of $32,272 ten years after entry, according to federal Scorecard data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly at (575) 461-6600 or visit mesalands.edu for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Mesalands Community College is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition costs and eligibility for state-level funding compared with for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported in the data provided for this campus. Contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and review detailed outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?188261.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data provided does not specify program schedules or lengths, so fit for adult career-changers cannot be confirmed from federal data alone; contact the school to discuss options.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing or certification requirements are not reported in the data provided. Contact the school at (575) 461-6600 for details specific to the CNC and machining programs.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Mesalands Community College at (575) 461-6600 or visit their website at https://www.mesalands.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools offering the same trade programs is not included in the data provided; consult the College Scorecard to compare institutions in the area.
Nearby trade and career schools in New Mexico
- Clayton Municipal SchoolsClayton, NM
- Central New Mexico Community CollegeAlbuquerque, NM · 31% completion
- Santa Fe Community CollegeSanta Fe, NM · 23% completion
- San Juan CollegeFarmington, NM · 37% completion
- Olympian Academy of CosmetologyLas Cruces, NM · career school
- Pima Medical Institute-AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque, NM · 68% completion
- Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell CampusRoswell, NM · 32% completion
- Clovis Community CollegeClovis, NM · 34% completion
See all trade and career schools in New Mexico or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.