Three bachelor’s in communications programs in New Mexico help Southwest students find their creative voices across the “Land of Enchantment.” Admitted in 1912, the fifth-largest state was ranked 28th for business on Forbes with a $92 billion economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in May 2017 that New Mexico has 9,400 media-related jobs paying $55,500 on average. Communications grads could work at 25 full-power stations, such as KLUZ-TV in Albuquerque or KBIM-TV in Roswell. Several newspapers, including Santa Fe New Mexican and Las Cruces Sun-News, still have over 23,000 readers. New Mexico’s $505 million film production industry has created hits like Brokeback Mountain and The Grapes of Wrath. Skilled communicators also work at MeteorCity Records, Gigablast, Allsup’s, Figaro Systems, Summit Electric, M88 Radio, Griffin & Associates, and others. Make the following list your source for choosing which undergrad communications colleges in New Mexico meet your distinct goals.
See our ranking of the Top 20 Best Online Communications Degree Programs.
Eastern New Mexico University
College of Fine Arts
Home to the 30,000-volume Jack Williamson Science Fiction Library since 2006, Eastern New Mexico University is the largest public, Hispanic-serving regional school that’s budgeting $111 million to instruct 6,027 Greyhounds from 36 nations in 60+ majors at its 400-acre Portales home. ENMU was picked America’s 440th hardest college on Niche, 18th fastest-growing institution by Chronicle of Higher Education, and 274th top research university in Washington Monthly. The 2016 LSC Academic Excellence Award winner keeps one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in New Mexico ranked 191st nationally by College Factual within its College of Fine Arts for 58 percent retention.
Bachelor of Science in Communication
Chaired by Dr. Patricia Dobson, a 2018 New Mexico Press Women Award recipient, ENMU’s Bachelor of Science in Communication boosts media literacy for the effective creation of demographic-specific audience messages. The 43-credit major currently costs $2,958 to $5,846 per semester in four tracks: Broadcast Journalism, Broadcast Production, Journalism, or Public Relations. Students can also publish The Chase, tune KENW 89.5FM, join Outliers, practice in the PBS Studio, intern at Siarza Social Digital, attend Festival Románico, visit Seoul, and minor in Greek.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Communication Center 100
1500 South Ave K
Portales, NM 88130
(575) 562-2140
patricia.dobson@enmu.edu
New Mexico State University
College of Arts and Sciences
Bestowed two 2016 NMBA Excellence in Broadcasting Awards for KRWG-TV, New Mexico State University is a public, land-grant doctoral HEED Diversity institution that’s using $591 million to deliver 96 majors to 15,000 Aggies from 89 countries at its 900-acre Las Cruces flagship. NMSU was crowned America’s 195th best buy in Forbes, 163rd best faculty on Niche, and 106th top public university by the U.S. News & World Report. Running the Center for Communication Development, the College of Arts and Sciences gifts a 20-yet net PayScale ROI of $359,000 from one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in New Mexico that landed 99th nationally on College Factual.
Communication Studies – Bachelor of Arts
Presently priced at $3,684 to $11,754 per term, NMSU’s Communication Studies – Bachelor of Arts studies the everyday processes people utilize to convey ideas and make sense of mediated information. The 117-credit degree organized by Dr. Kenneth Hacker, a 2006 Outstanding Faculty Achievement Award winner, blends generalist courses from Persuasion Theory to Political Communication. Majors might also pledge Lambda Pi Eta, engage in the Creative Media Institute, edit The Round Up, deejay on KRUX 91.5FM, attend the Trailblazers Retreat, and join Soul Verse.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Speech Building 327
940 College Drive
Las Cruces, NM 88003
(575) 646-2801
khacker@nmsu.edu
University of New Mexico
College of Arts & Sciences
Hosting the Cherry Reel Film Festival each November, the University of New Mexico is a public, Hispanic-serving RU/VH hub and Penny Marshall’s alma mater that gifts over $50 million to aid 20,215 undergrad Lobos across 94 majors at a 600-acre Albuquerque campus with the Maxwell Museum. UNM was judged America’s 458th best university by Times Higher Education, 115th best athletics college on Niche, and 232nd most selective school on WalletHub. The College of Arts & Sciences currently bills $7,322 to $22,586 yearly for another of the bachelor’s in communications programs in New Mexico that ranked 111th nationally on College Factual with 58 percent admission.
Communication BA
Available in Las Cruces or online starting Fall 2018, New Mexico’s Communication BA attracts around 750 majors intrigued by the measurable effects of print or digital media influence. The 120-credit curriculum led by Dr. David Weiss, a 2016 Best Practices Certification recipient, has six options: Environmental, Interpersonal, Intercultural, Organizational, Public, and Strategic Communication. Undergrads could intern at Entravision, edit The Daily Lobo, stream on KUNM 89.9FM, earn the Carolyn Hunsley Scholarship, join Generation Justice, and tour Stockholm too.
Accreditation
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
C&J Building 129
Redondo Drive NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
(505) 277-5305
davidweiss@unm.edu
The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions listed insurance sales agent, management analyst, app developer, loan officer, administrative service manager, and speech-language pathologist among its top 50 jobs for 2018. On CareerOneStop, New Mexico’s demand for marketing specialists will spike by 18 percent for 1,100 added positions too. What these careers all have in common is the requirement of solid speaking and writing skills. Make yourself a competitive hire at these HLC-accredited bachelor’s in communications programs in New Mexico.