New Mexico has 10 schools with verified geography or geographic information systems (GIS) credentials: 4 public universities, 4 community colleges, and 2 tribal colleges. The University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University offer geography bachelor’s and master’s degrees and share a joint Ph.D. in Geography. Western New Mexico University and New Mexico Highlands University offer undergraduate and graduate GIS certificates. Central New Mexico Community College, San Juan College, Doña Ana Community College, and Southeast New Mexico College offer GIS associate degrees or certificates, as do Navajo Technical University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. The only verified fully online option is NMSU’s M.S. in Geographic Information Science and Technology.
Quick picks for New Mexico
- Lowest resident bachelor’s tuition: New Mexico State University, $6,728.20 per year for the B.S. in Geography.
- Fully online degree: NMSU M.S. in Geographic Information Science and Technology, 30–31 credits at $444.40 per credit for all students ($13,332 for 30 credits).
- Lowest-cost GIS certificate: Southeast New Mexico College, 19 credits at $41 per credit for Carlsbad-area residents ($779) or $54 per credit for other New Mexico residents ($1,026).
- Ph.D. program: the joint Ph.D. in Geography offered by UNM and NMSU, with students based at either campus.
- No tuition for eligible students: Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, where the Bureau of Indian Education covers tuition for its Geospatial Information Technology A.A.S. and certificate. Student fees still apply.
Rates are resident tuition before fees. See the tuition comparison for nonresident rates and fees.
New Mexico Geography and GIS Programs at a Glance
Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Mexico | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geography Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geography | Campus (Albuquerque) | 120 (major: 34 minimum) | B.S. focus in human geography, natural resources, or GIScience; honors thesis option |
| New Mexico State University | B.S. in Geography, Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIS&T) concentration B.S. in Geography, Environmental Studies concentration | Campus (Las Cruces) | 120 | GIS&T concentration requires programming, remote sensing, and spatial modeling |
| Western New Mexico University | Geographic Information System Science Certificate | Not stated (Silver City) | 20–21 | Web mapping core; internship elective |
| New Mexico Highlands University | GIS Certificate | Not stated (Las Vegas) | 18 | Remote sensing and GIS capstone seminar |
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Mexico | Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography (Environmental Studies or Geographic Information Science concentration) Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography (joint with NMSU) Graduate Certificate in Environmental Sensing, Data, and Modeling | Campus (Albuquerque) | M.S.: 30–35 Ph.D.: 66 Certificate: 10 | Thesis or project route in the M.S. |
| New Mexico State University | Master of Applied Geography (MAG) M.S. in Geographic Information Science and Technology Ph.D. in Geography (joint with UNM) | MAG and Ph.D.: campus (Las Cruces) M.S.: fully online | MAG: 30 M.S.: 30–31 Ph.D.: 66 beyond the bachelor’s | Online M.S. ends in a capstone with an external partner |
| Western New Mexico University | Geographic Information System Science Graduate Certificate | Not stated (Silver City) | 16–18 | Web mapping required; programming and remote sensing electives |
| New Mexico Highlands University | Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems | Not stated (Las Vegas) | 16 (catalog total) | Remote sensing and capstone seminar required |
Credentials were verified against 2026–27 catalogs, except Western New Mexico University, whose current catalog is 2025–26. Minors are not listed.
Community and Tribal College Degrees and Certificates
| College | Credential | Units | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central New Mexico Community College | Geographic Information Technology, Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) and Certificate of Completion | 61 / 21 | Campus (Advanced Technology Center, Albuquerque) and field locations |
| San Juan College | Geographic Information Systems Technology, A.A.S. and Certificate | 61–64 / 32–35 | Not stated (Farmington) |
| Doña Ana Community College | Geographical Information Systems, Certificate of Completion | 19 | Not stated (Las Cruces area) |
| Southeast New Mexico College | Geographical Information Systems, Certificate of Completion | 19 | Not stated (Carlsbad) |
| Navajo Technical University | Geographic Information Technology, A.A.S. and Certificate | 62 / 34 | Not stated (Crownpoint) |
| Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute | Geospatial Information Technology, A.A.S. and Certificate | 60 / 25 | Campus (Albuquerque) |
CNM also offers a Geography and Environmental Studies A.A. designed for transfer, which is not counted here because it is not a GIS credential.
Online Geography and GIS Programs in New Mexico
An online course is not the same as an online degree. The program below has an official statement that the full credential can be completed online. The next list covers programs that only offer some coursework online or do not state a format.
Verified fully online options
- New Mexico State University M.S. in Geographic Information Science and Technology: the 2026–27 catalog and NMSU Global both describe a 100% online, asynchronous program taught in 8-week courses.
Online coursework, but not a verified fully online program
- University of New Mexico geography programs: the 2026–27 catalog marks the B.A., B.S., Ph.D., and graduate certificate as not offered online.
- Western New Mexico University GIS certificates: the university charges online course fees, but the certificate pages and catalog do not say the certificates can be completed online.
- New Mexico Highlands University GIS certificates: Highlands lists rates for individual online classes, but the catalog does not state an online format for either certificate.
- Community and tribal college GIS programs: none of the six colleges states that its GIS degree or certificate can be completed online.
For programs based in other states, see online geography schools.
New Mexico School Summaries
University of New Mexico
UNM’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies offers a B.A. and a B.S. in Geography. Both are 120-credit degrees with a major of at least 34 credits, and both require Maps and GIScience, Introduction to GIS, and a one-credit Geography Careers course. The B.A. spreads electives across human geography, natural resources, and GIScience groups, while the B.S. lets students focus more deeply in one area. Arts and Sciences students also complete a minor or second major. An honors track ends in a senior thesis or comparable project.
The M.S. in Geography requires 30–35 credits and a concentration in Environmental Studies or Geographic Information Science. Students choose a thesis (Plan I) or a professional research project (Plan II), with an oral examination for both. The catalog says GRE scores are required, but the department’s admissions page says they are not, so applicants should confirm. The Ph.D. in Geography is a 66-credit joint program with NMSU. Students pick a home campus and may take up to 15 credit hours at the partner school. Applicants need a master’s degree in geography or a related field.
The 10-credit Graduate Certificate in Environmental Sensing, Data, and Modeling, new in the 2026–27 catalog, requires one course each in spatial data science, remote sensing, spatial data communication, and environmental modeling.
Sources: 2026–27 catalog, Geography and Environmental Studies programs; graduate admissions.
New Mexico State University
NMSU’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies offers a 120-credit B.S. in Geography with two concentrations. The GIS&T concentration requires Map Analysis and Interpretation, Introduction to Remote Sensing, Cartography and GIS, Fundamentals of GIS, Advanced Remote Sensing, Programming for GIS, and Spatial Analysis and Modeling, plus courses in physical geography, human geography, and environmental studies. The Environmental Studies concentration requires Cartography and GIS and 24–25 credits across the three subject areas. Both require a one-year second language.
The 30-credit Master of Applied Geography has a thesis option and a non-thesis residency option, in which students complete a residency report with an outside organization and a final exam. A geography degree is not required for admission. The catalog says most MAG students receive teaching or research assistantships that include stipends and tuition coverage. The fully online M.S. in GIS&T takes 30–31 credits: 20 core credits, one elective, a 6-credit capstone project with an external partner, and a 1-credit professional portfolio. NMSU also hosts the joint Ph.D. in Geography with UNM, which requires at least 66 credits beyond the bachelor’s.
Sources: 2026–27 Geography and Environmental Studies catalog; GIS&T B.S.; MAG; online M.S. catalog page; NMSU Global M.S. page; Ph.D..
Western New Mexico University
WNMU’s Department of Natural Sciences offers a 20–21 credit Geographic Information System Science Certificate. The core covers Introduction to GIS, Spatial Analysis in GIS, and Web Mapping and WebGIS, each with a lab, plus two of Introduction to Remote Sensing, GIS Modeling and Programming, and an internship. The 16–18 credit Graduate Certificate follows the same subjects at the 500 level. The department’s page lists a GIS concentration in the M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies as an upcoming program. WNMU includes required textbooks in its charges through a per-credit book fee.
Sources: GIS program page; 2025–26 catalog.
New Mexico Highlands University
Highlands’ Department of Natural Resources Management offers an undergraduate GIS Certificate with a catalog total of 18 credits: one introductory course in anthropology, forestry, geology, or political science, plus Fundamentals of Geospatial Information Science and Technology, Remote Sensing and Analysis, Advanced GIS, and a GIS Capstone Seminar. The Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems requires the graduate versions of those courses and a capstone seminar. Its listed courses add up to 15 credits, while the catalog gives a 16-credit total. The department also offers an M.S. in Natural Sciences, which is not a GIS degree.
Sources: Natural Resources Management; 2026–27 undergraduate and graduate catalogs.
Central New Mexico Community College
CNM’s Geographic Information Technology program covers GIS, GPS field mapping, remote sensing, land surveying, databases, and programming. The A.A.S. requires at least 61 credits, and the stand-alone certificate requires at least 21. Courses meet at the Advanced Technology Center and at field locations, and the program can be completed part-time or full-time. CNM says the degree prepares students for work in the geospatial industry or for four-year study in geography at UNM or NMSU.
Sources: program page; 2026–27 catalog.
San Juan College
San Juan College offers a 61–64 credit Geographic Information Systems Technology A.A.S. and a 32–35 credit certificate. The core includes Map Use and Design, GIS I and II, Geospatial Analysis, Geographic Image Analysis, Surveying, Advanced Database Concepts, and Advanced GIS, with internship and cooperative education options. Students also learn to fly drones for mapping. The college offers a separate Small Unmanned Aerial Systems A.A.S. and certificate.
Sources: program page; 2026–27 catalog, A.A.S..
Doña Ana Community College
Doña Ana Community College, part of the NMSU system, offers a 19-credit Geographical Information Systems Certificate of Completion in its Drafting and Design Technologies area. It includes Computer Drafting Fundamentals, Survey Drafting Applications, Geographic Information Systems Technology, Spatial Data Processing, GIS Theory and Analysis, and Physical Geography or an approved elective. The suggested plan takes two semesters. The college also offers Civil Survey Technology and Surveying Technology programs.
Sources: 2026–27 catalog.
Southeast New Mexico College
Southeast New Mexico College in Carlsbad, formerly NMSU Carlsbad, offers a 19-credit Geographical Information Systems Certificate of Completion in its Science and Engineering Department. It uses the same drafting, GIS, spatial data, and physical geography courses as the Doña Ana certificate. At least 6 of the 19 credits must be completed at SENMC.
Sources: 2026–27 catalog.
Navajo Technical University
Navajo Technical University in Crownpoint offers a 62-credit Geographic Information Technology A.A.S. and a 34-credit certificate. The A.A.S. covers cartography, GIS I and II, remote sensing, GIS software applications, database query, and construction surveying, and includes Navajo language and a service learning project.
Sources: program page; 2026–27 undergraduate catalog.
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
SIPI, a federally operated college in Albuquerque, offers a 60-credit Geospatial Information Technology A.A.S. and a 25-credit certificate covering GIS, GPS, and remote sensing. SIPI says the certificate’s credits can count toward the GIS Professional (GISP) certification. Admission is open to enrolled members of federally recognized tribes and to applicants with at least one-quarter degree Indian blood from federally recognized tribes. The Bureau of Indian Education covers tuition, and students pay a student fee.
Sources: 2026–27 academic catalog.
Schools not included
- Eastern New Mexico University: geography courses are offered only for general education. GIS appears as a research area in the anthropology master’s, not as a credential.
- New Mexico Tech: earth science, geology, and hydrology degrees, but no geography or GIS credential or minor.
- Northern New Mexico College: its environmental science degrees include one GIS course but no GIS credential.
- Santa Fe Community College: no GIS degree or certificate in the 2026–27 or 2025–26 catalog.
- Other community colleges with no GIS credential: Clovis Community College, Luna Community College, New Mexico Junior College, ENMU-Roswell, ENMU-Ruidoso, NMSU Alamogordo, NMSU Grants, and the UNM branch campuses in Gallup, Los Alamos, Taos, and Valencia.
- Minor only: UNM and NMSU also offer GIS minors, which are not listed separately.
- Related degrees: NMSU Global’s B.S. in Geomatics is a surveying degree, and UNM’s Master of Community and Regional Planning does not require a GIS course.
- Diné College: offers a GIS certificate, but the college is based in Tsaile, Arizona. Whether the certificate is offered at its Shiprock, New Mexico, site was not confirmed.
- Not checked on the school’s own site: Mesalands Community College and the Institute of American Indian Arts blocked automated access. Neither is known to offer a GIS credential.
Tuition Comparison
Estimated tuition is our arithmetic from each published rate and the stated basis. Each figure is labeled “per year” or “total.” None includes fees, housing, books, or other costs, except where a school publishes only a combined tuition-and-fee rate. Eligible New Mexico residents may also qualify for the state’s Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, which cover tuition at public colleges.
Undergraduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Mexico B.A. or B.S. in Geography | $4,294.50 per semester (resident, 15+ hours) $15,868.80 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $8,589 resident per year $31,737.60 nonresident per year | $897 per semester in mandatory and facility fees, plus flat fees; $10.62 per credit Arts and Sciences differential; $37.22 per credit for 300- and 400-level courses |
| New Mexico State University B.S. in Geography | $3,364.10 per semester (resident, 15+ credits) $12,527.30 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $6,728.20 resident per year $25,054.60 nonresident per year | $954.45 per semester at 15+ credits, plus $17.33 per credit academic service fee |
| Western New Mexico University GIS Science Certificate | $328.78 per credit (resident, tuition and fees combined) $415.61 per credit (nonresident, 1–6 credits per term) | 20–21 credits, part-time | $6,575.60–$6,904.38 resident total $8,312.20–$8,727.81 nonresident total | Included in the combined rate; book fee of $26.66 per credit listed separately |
| New Mexico Highlands University GIS Certificate | $203.65 per credit (resident) $408.65 per credit (nonresident) | 18 credits | $3,665.70 resident total $7,355.70 nonresident total | $99.70 per credit; $10 per credit for online classes |
| Central New Mexico Community College Geographic Information Technology A.A.S. | $912 per term (resident, 12–18 credits) $4,428 per term (nonresident) | Two terms | $1,824 resident per year $8,856 nonresident per year | $61 registration fee per term; $16 per credit technology and facility fee |
| Central New Mexico Community College Geographic Information Technology Certificate | $76 per credit (resident) $369 per credit (nonresident) | 21 credits, part-time | $1,596 resident total $7,749 nonresident total | $61 per term; $16 per credit |
| San Juan College GIS Technology A.A.S. | $61 per credit (resident) $195 per credit (nonresident) | 30 credits per year | $1,830 resident per year $5,850 nonresident per year | $215.25 general fee per term (4.1+ credits); $1.50 per credit activity fee, up to $27 |
| San Juan College GIS Technology Certificate | $61 per credit (resident) $195 per credit (nonresident) | 32–35 credits | $1,952–$2,135 resident total $6,240–$6,825 nonresident total | Same as above |
| Doña Ana Community College GIS Certificate of Completion | $68.50 per credit (in-district) $85.00 per credit (other NM residents) $236.75 per credit (nonresident, 7+ credits) | 19 credits | $1,301.50 in-district total $1,615 resident total $4,498.25 nonresident total | $8.25 per credit, plus $20 per credit academic service fee |
| Southeast New Mexico College GIS Certificate of Completion | $41 per credit (Carlsbad resident) $54 per credit (other NM residents) $221 per credit (out of state) | 19 credits, part-time | $779 Carlsbad resident total $1,026 resident total $4,199 out-of-state total | $13 per credit |
| Navajo Technical University Geographic Information Technology A.A.S. or Certificate | $924 per semester with a Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB), full-time $1,848 per semester without a CIB | Two semesters | $1,848 per year with CIB $3,696 per year without CIB | $200 per semester (activity, technology, library, and athletic fees) |
| Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute Geospatial Information Technology A.A.S. or Certificate | No tuition (covered by the Bureau of Indian Education) | Not applicable | None | $365 commuter or $590 lodge full-time student fee; billing period not stated |
Rates are 2026–27 except Western New Mexico University (Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 combined rates), San Juan College and Navajo Technical University (current rates; year not stated on the rate pages), and the NMSU system campuses (Fall 2026 schedules).
Graduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Mexico M.S. or Ph.D. in Geography | $4,233.36 per semester (resident, 12+ hours) $13,764.48 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $8,466.72 resident per year $27,528.96 nonresident per year | $808.32 per semester in mandatory and facility fees, plus flat fees; $53.16 per credit Arts and Sciences differential |
| University of New Mexico Environmental Sensing, Data, and Modeling Certificate | $352.78 per hour (resident) $1,147.04 per hour (nonresident, 7+ hours) | 10 credits, part-time | $3,527.80 resident total $11,470.40 nonresident total | $61.58 per hour mandatory fees and $5.78 per hour facility fee; $53.16 per credit differential |
| New Mexico State University Master of Applied Geography; Ph.D. | $287.80 per credit (resident) $1,001.30 per credit (nonresident, 7+ credits) | MAG: 30 credits | $8,634 resident total $30,039 nonresident total | $63.63 per credit, plus $20 per credit academic service fee. Most MAG students receive assistantships with tuition coverage. |
| New Mexico State University (online) M.S. in GIS&T | $444.40 per credit, all students | 30–31 credits | $13,332–$13,776.40 total | None listed beyond application and graduation fees |
| Western New Mexico University GIS Science Graduate Certificate | $343.96 per credit (resident, tuition and fees combined) $437.58 per credit (nonresident, 1–6 credits per term) | 16–18 credits, part-time | $5,503.36–$6,191.28 resident total $7,001.28–$7,876.44 nonresident total | Included in the combined rate; book fee of $26.66 per credit listed separately |
| New Mexico Highlands University Graduate Certificate in GIS | $228.65 per credit (resident) $427.65 per credit (nonresident) | 16 credits | $3,658.40 resident total $6,842.40 nonresident total | $99.70 per credit; $10 per credit for online classes |
Rates are 2026–27 (UNM and NMSU from Fall 2026 schedules; WNMU Fall 2026 and Spring 2027).
Why some rates do not compare directly
- NMSU’s online M.S. charges one per-credit rate to all students, with no out-of-state surcharge.
- UNM, NMSU, and WNMU charge nonresidents taking six or fewer credits a lower rate than nonresidents taking more.
- WNMU publishes tuition and fees as one combined rate, so its figures run higher than tuition-only rates elsewhere.
- Doña Ana and Southeast New Mexico College charge less to residents of their local districts. Navajo Technical University charges less to students with a Certificate of Indian Blood.
- SIPI charges no tuition but admits only students who meet its tribal enrollment or blood quantum requirements.
How to Choose a Geography or GIS Program in New Mexico
Broad geography or technical GIS
UNM’s B.A. and B.S. and NMSU’s Environmental Studies concentration are the broad geography options. NMSU’s GIS&T concentration is the most technical bachelor’s route, with programming, remote sensing, and spatial modeling. Read more about GIScience degrees and bachelor’s degrees in geography.
Certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s
For a short credential, GIS certificates run 18 to 21 credits at Highlands, Western New Mexico, Doña Ana, and Southeast New Mexico College, and 21 to 35 credits at CNM, San Juan, Navajo Tech, and SIPI. The A.A.S. programs at CNM, San Juan, Navajo Tech, and SIPI add general education and more technical courses. CNM says its GIT degree can lead to four-year study at UNM or NMSU, but A.A.S. credits do not always transfer, so students should check with an advisor.
Research or professional master’s
UNM’s M.S. offers a thesis or project route, and NMSU’s MAG offers a thesis or a residency with an outside organization. Both lead into the joint Ph.D. NMSU’s online M.S. in GIS&T is a professional degree with a capstone project and no thesis. Compare master’s programs nationally.
Online or campus
NMSU’s M.S. in GIS&T is the only verified fully online geography or GIS credential in New Mexico. All other programs on this page are campus-based or do not state a format. See online geography schools for programs based elsewhere.
Students open to nearby states can also compare programs in Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Oklahoma, or browse all state guides.
Sources and Review Date
Reviewed October 14, 2026. Program details come from each school’s 2026–27 catalog or program pages unless noted above. Tuition comes from each school’s published rate schedule.
- UNM: tuition and fee rates (Fall 2026 undergraduate and graduate main campus schedules)
- NMSU, Doña Ana, and NMSU Global: tuition and required fees (Fall 2026 schedules)
- Western New Mexico: tuition and fees
- New Mexico Highlands: tuition and fees
- CNM: tuition, fees
- San Juan College: tuition and fees
- Southeast New Mexico College: 2026–27 tuition and fees
- Navajo Technical University: tuition and fees
- SIPI: student fee schedule in the 2026–27 academic catalog
Program-level source links appear at the end of each school summary. Programs, rates, and requirements change, so confirm them with each school before applying.