Luna Community College
#10 Best Online Colleges in New Mexico- Graduation Rate
- 33% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $32,461 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $4,595 A
- 73% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 423
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 39.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $39.3 over 20 years. Ranked #10 in Best Online Colleges in New Mexico.
Every $1 spent returns $39.3 over 20 years. Net gain: $703,442.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 20% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 33% — 42% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.18% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $39.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Luna Community College Matters
Luna Community College is a public college in Las Vegas, NM and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 423
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Culinary & Personal Services, Education, Humanities
Why students choose Luna Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $4,595 a year after grants and scholarships — 73% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $32,461 ten years after enrolling — 20% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 23% nationally for mobility.
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just 423 students, Luna Community College is a great fit for those looking for a more intimate learning environment. It’s particularly appealing for individuals interested in Health Professions, Humanities, Criminal Justice, Culinary & Personal Services, and Education. Students here can expect a more personalized education, which may help them engage more deeply with their studies and peers.
Looking ahead, graduates from Luna Community College earn an average of $32,461 after ten years. While the graduation rate sits at 33%, this suggests that those who complete their programs can find their footing in the job market. This is important to consider as we think about long-term career prospects. The affordability of attending Luna is also a plus, with a net price of just $4,595, making it accessible for many students.
When assessing the financial side, it's vital to note that the cost after aid is quite manageable, especially for those who qualify for financial assistance—around 25% of students receive Pell Grants. This affordability can ease the burden of student debt, which often weighs heavily on graduates. Those who tend to thrive here are likely self-motivated and focused on practical skills that lead directly to employment in their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Luna Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Luna Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Luna Community College, located in Las Vegas, New Mexico, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
- Retention Rate
- 43%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 51%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,965
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.34
- First-Gen Students
- 48%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Luna Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Luna Community College is $3,418, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $4,595. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,393 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,474
- Out-of-State
- $3,418
- Avg Net Price
- $4,595
- Pell Grant Rate
- 25%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 2%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,393
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $2,962
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,329
- Family Income $110K+
- $8,602
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Luna Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Luna Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Luna Community College report median earnings of $32,461, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $29,547
- 8 Years
- $30,917
- 10 Years
- $32,461
- Earning > $25K
- 38%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (17)
- 16%
- 100% (17)
- 16%
- 100% (17)
- 16%
- 100% (17)
- 16%
How Luna Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Luna Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Luna Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,595/year ($18,380 total). Graduates earn $32,461 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $721,822 in total earnings — a net gain of $703,442 (39.3× your investment).. With a 33% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $18,380
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $721,822
- Net Return
- $703,442
- ROI Multiple
- 39.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $4,595
- Graduation Rate
- 33%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Luna Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Luna Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.18%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 36.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 5.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $27,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.18%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 5.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 36.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $37,635
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $942,673
- Federal Grants
- $1,433,950
- Investment Income
- $7,319
Top Programs
The fields Luna Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 25% $68,105 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 18%
- Education 15%
- Humanities 10%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 7%
- Precision Production 7%
- Business & Marketing 6%
- Criminal Justice 4%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Luna Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Luna Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Luna Community College, located in Las Vegas, New Mexico, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Luna Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Luna Community College is $3,418, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $4,595. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,393 after need-based grants.
Is Luna Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Luna Community College report median earnings of $32,461, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Luna Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Luna Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.18%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 36.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 5.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $27,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
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