New Mexico Community Colleges
Liberal Arts Programs
Liberal-arts transfer programs at community colleges in this state. English, history, philosophy, and the social sciences for university transfer.
6 colleges · 247 sections · 36 unique courses · Summer 2026 · Updated today
The liberal-arts associate at New Mexico community colleges is the most common transfer degree in the Community Colleges system. It's designed as a complete 2-year general-education foundation — English composition, history, math, lab science, social science, fine arts — that articulates to any four-year university in the state. Students complete two years at community-college tuition rates and arrive at the bachelor's program as juniors with sophomore standing in their declared major.
This term's 247 sections across 6 Community Colleges colleges fill those general-education buckets. The right college often comes down to schedule (online availability, evening sections) and proximity rather than program differences — the curriculum is intentionally similar across institutions to keep the transfer guarantee working. Compare colleges below by section count and transfer agreements.
Colleges offering Liberal Arts
Pick a college to see its full plan — every required course, which ones transfer to the school you want, and what’s open now.
Liberal Arts is a transfer program — community colleges offer the coursework; you earn the degree, and its earnings, at a four-year university. See where it transfers →
| College | Sections | Courses | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central New Mexico Community College | 150 | 24 | 121 |
| San Juan College | 62 | 14 | 47 |
| Northern New Mexico College | 13 | 8 | 12 |
| Santa Fe Community College | 11 | 6 | 8 |
| New Mexico Junior College | 7 | 4 | 5 |
| Southeast New Mexico College | 4 | 3 | 4 |
Liberal Arts Availability Snapshot
How liberal arts sections are being offered across 6 colleges in New Mexico this term (247 sections total).
Delivery format
- online197 (80%)
- in person50 (20%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)25
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)17
- Evening (5 PM and after)7
- Asynchronous / TBA198
Start dates
Sections begin on 13 distinct dates. 245 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 106 distinct instructors across 6 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Central New Mexico Community College2 programs
Northern New Mexico College1 program
Additional Nine Credit hours (9 CR)
Foundations in the Liberal Arts (9 CR)
Source: College catalog
San Juan College1 program
SJC First Year Experience Requirement: 3 Credits
3 creditsGeneral Education Requirements: 31 Credits
31 creditsSee catalog for course list
Communications:
Mathematics:
Program Core Requirements: 26 Credits
26 creditsSee catalog for course list
Core Electives: 16 Credits
16 creditsSee catalog for course list
TOTAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: 60 Credits
60 creditsSee catalog for course list
Fall 1
Spring 1
Source: College catalog
Common Liberal Arts courses
- ENGL 1110COMPOSITION I(83 sections)
- ENGL 1120COMPOSITION II(47 sections)
- HIST 1110UNITED STATES HISTORY I(12 sections)
- ENGL 2210PRO AND TECH COMMUNICATION(11 sections)
- PHIL 2120BIOMEDICAL ETHICS(11 sections)
- HIST 1120UNITED STATES HISTORY II(10 sections)
- PHIL 1120LOGIC REASONING & CRIT THINK(8 sections)
- ENGL 1210(CNM ONLINE COLLEGE STUDENTS) TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS(7 sections)
- ENGL 2310INTRO TO CREATIVE WRITING(6 sections)
- ENGL 099Composition I Support Class(6 sections)
- ENGL 1110PCOMPOSITION I PLUS(5 sections)
- HIST 2110SURVEY OF NEW MEXICO HISTORY(5 sections)
Frequently asked questions
- What is a liberal-arts degree good for?
- Almost exclusively transfer. The liberal-arts AA isn't a career-track degree on its own; it's the first two years of a bachelor's, packaged so you can complete it at much lower tuition before moving to a four-year school. The major you eventually declare at the four-year (English, history, sociology, psychology, business, etc.) determines your career path.
- Will all my liberal-arts credits transfer to a New Mexico four-year university?
- If you complete the full associate of arts at a Community Colleges college, yes — under New Mexico's statewide articulation agreement, the entire degree transfers as a block to any public four-year, giving you junior standing. Where students lose credits is by taking random courses outside the structured AA pathway. Talk to your transfer advisor early.
- Can I save money by doing my first two years at community college?
- Yes, often substantially. New Mexico community college tuition is typically less than half what a state university charges, and the credits transfer 1:1 if you stick to the structured AA. Two years of saved tuition often translates to $20–40k less debt at graduation.
- How long does the liberal-arts associate take?
- Two years full-time (60 credits). Many students complete it in three or more years on a part-time schedule — community colleges build their evening, weekend, and online sections around working students.
Compare Liberal Arts programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how New Mexico’s liberal arts programs stack up.
Other programs in New Mexico
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.