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New Mexico Junior College

Hobbs, New Mexico · Public community college · Training programs available:

Cosmetology schoolsBarber schoolsAuto mechanic schoolsWelding schoolsLPN / LVN programs
58%completion rate · New Mexico avg 43%
$11,313median debt of graduates
$32,145median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$34,233median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | Higher Learning Commission (Accredited)
Address: 5317 Lovington Hwy, Hobbs, NM 88240 · Phone: (575) 392-4510 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.

New Mexico Junior College is a public trade school in Hobbs, NM offering cosmetology, barber, and auto mechanic programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

New Mexico Junior College has a 58.2% completion rate, above the state average of 42.9%, with median graduate debt of $11,313 and median earnings of $34,233 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for New Mexico Junior College; the school participates in Title IV aid, and about 26.5% of students receive Pell Grants.

Completion rate vs. benchmarks
New Mexico Junior Col… New Mexico Junior Col…: 58.2% 58.2% New Mexico average New Mexico average: 42.9% 42.9% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists$27,190$37,750$46,240
Barbers$36,440$39,100$39,320
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$30,390$47,300$63,050
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$36,860$59,840$82,550
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$38,090$59,330$73,090

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

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 1–2 years 44 not reported not reported not reported
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 1–2 years 17 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 14 not reported $39,009 not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 7 not reported not reported not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 1–2 years 2 not reported not reported not reported
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services 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.

Visit the school's website ↗

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About this school

New Mexico Junior College is a public trade and career campus in Hobbs, New Mexico, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Because it participates in Title IV federal financial aid, students can use FAFSA, Pell Grants, and federal loans to help pay for enrollment. The college's top trade programs are cosmetology schools, barber schools, and auto mechanic schools, alongside welding and LPN programs, totaling six program families.

Federal Scorecard data shows a completion rate of 58.2%, above the state average of 42.9%. Graduates carry a median debt of $11,313, and median earnings ten years after entry are $34,233. About 26.5% of students receive Pell Grants, an indicator of the share of lower-income students served. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.

This campus, located in a remote town setting, may suit students seeking shorter, hands-on trade credentials such as cosmetology, barbering, or auto mechanics rather than longer degree pathways, though program length details are not specified here. Adult learners and career changers considering a switch to a skilled trade should confirm program schedules and licensing requirements directly with the school. To verify accreditation status and review the latest outcome figures, consult the Higher Learning Commission, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, or the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

New Mexico Junior College offers six program families, with the largest being cosmetology schools, barber schools, and auto mechanic schools, plus welding and LPN programs.

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, it is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?

Yes, the school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used.

What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?

The completion rate is 58.2%, which is above the New Mexico state average of 42.9%.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Graduates carry a median debt of $11,313, per federal Scorecard data.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings ten years after entry are $34,233, per the College Scorecard.

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 at (575) 392-4510 or visit its website for current tuition.

Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?

New Mexico Junior College is a public institution, which often means lower tuition and eligibility for state funding compared to for-profit schools.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Program length is not reported in the available data; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.

How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?

You can confirm accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, and review outcome data at the College Scorecard link provided by the school.

Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?

The available data does not specify program formats for adult learners, so prospective students should contact the school to ask about scheduling and flexibility for career changers.

What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?

Licensing requirements are not specified in the available data; check with the relevant state licensing board and the school for program-specific certification needs.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach New Mexico Junior College at (575) 392-4510 or through its website at https://www.nmjc.edu/.

How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?

Comparative data on nearby schools is not included here; use the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?187903 to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across institutions.

Other trade and career schools in Hobbs, NM

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.

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