Do Students Succeed at Santa Fe Community College?
Success rates, completion statistics, and student outcome metrics for Santa Fe Community College in Santa Fe, NM.
Student Success at Santa Fe Community College at a Glance
Santa Fe Community College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Santa Fe, NM. Current enrollment is 4,469 students.
- 23.4% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 31.9% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 66% of exiters from its largest program (Early Childhood Development Certificate) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $8,483 per quarter after exiting Early Childhood Development Certificate
- 633 graduates across 169 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 47 students used them here
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Santa Fe Community College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood Development Certificate | 100% | 66% | 59% | $8,483 |
| Associate in Applied Science in Allied Health | 100% | 45% | 44% | $11,533 |
| Associate in Applied Science Business Administration | 100% | 74% | 63% | $9,428 |
| Business Administration Certificate | 100% | 74% | 63% | $9,428 |
| Associate in Applied Science Early Childhood Education | 100% | 67% | 54% | $9,936 |
| Associate in Arts Early Childhood Education | 100% | 67% | 54% | $9,936 |
| Associate Applied Science in Paramedicine | 100% | 83% | 64% | $13,832 |
| Emergency Medical Technician - Basic Certificate | 100% | 83% | 64% | $13,832 |
| Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate Certificate | 100% | 83% | 64% | $13,832 |
| Paramedicine Certificate | 100% | 83% | 64% | $13,832 |
| Welding Certificate | 100% | 51% | 48% | $9,389 |
| Associate in Applied Science Nursing | 100% | 78% | 73% | $18,125 |
| Accounting Specialist Certificate | 100% | 78% | 70% | $11,035 |
| Associate Applied Science in Medical Assisting | 100% | 85% | 85% | $8,948 |
| Medical Assisting Certificate | 100% | 85% | 85% | $8,948 |
| Associate in Applied Science in Automotive Technology | 100% | 63% | 58% | $9,746 |
| Automatic Transmission Transaxle Certificate | 100% | 63% | 58% | $9,746 |
| Automotive Heating and Air Conditioning Certificate | 100% | 63% | 58% | $9,746 |
| Automotive Steering and Suspension Certificate | 100% | 63% | 58% | $9,746 |
| Brakes Certificate | 100% | 63% | 58% | $9,746 |
| Maintenance and Light Repair Certificate | 100% | 63% | 58% | $9,746 |
| Manual Transmission and Drive Train Certificate | 100% | 63% | 58% | $9,746 |
| Nursing Assistant Certificate | 100% | 68% | 54% | $7,287 |
| Associate in Applied Science Welding Technologies | 100% | 54% | 49% | $9,811 |
| Community Health Worker Certificate | 100% | 63% | 58% | $9,289 |
| Advanced Dental Assisting Skills Certificate | 100% | 83% | 79% | $6,630 |
| Associate in Applied Science Dental Health | 100% | 83% | 79% | $6,630 |
| Dental Assistant Certificate | 100% | 83% | 79% | $6,630 |
| Associate in Applied Science Computer and Information Technologies | 100% | 71% | 59% | $9,270 |
| Nutrition Certificate | 100% | 28% | 19% | $11,806 |
| Associate in Arts Criminal Justice | 100% | 64% | 75% | $7,920 |
| Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary Certificate | 100% | 87% | 93% | $8,352 |
| Massage Therapy Certificate | 100% | 54% | 54% | $9,521 |
| Associate in Applied Science Paralegal Studies | 100% | 73% | 64% | $11,239 |
| Associate in Applied Science Engineering Machining Technologies | 100% | 50% | — | $5,074 |
| Associate in Applied Science Respiratory Care | 100% | 83% | 88% | $7,769 |
| Phlebotomy Certificate | 100% | 73% | 60% | $7,944 |
| Computer Hardware and Software Certificate | 100% | 78% | 89% | $11,166 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Santa Fe Community College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Santa Fe Community College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
31.9%
Working Student Success
32.6%
Transfer Out Rate
23%
Still Enrolled Rate
1.8%
How Santa Fe Community College Compares
32% completion at Santa Fe Community College is mid-pack for the trade-school landscape. The 23% transfer-out rate adds important context — many trade students intentionally use their first credential as a stepping stone to a four-year school, so transfer often signals success rather than dropout.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Santa Fe Community College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Santa Fe Community College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 41.5% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Santa Fe Community College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
Transfer students outperform first-time students by 13.0 percentage points, suggesting the institution provides strong support for transfer pathways and recognizes prior learning effectively.
Combined 22.0% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Santa Fe Community College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Notably, part-time students have a higher success rate here (32.6% vs 32.4% for full-time), which is great news if you plan to work while studying. This pattern is common at trade colleges where programs are designed to accommodate working adults. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Santa Fe Community College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 1,583 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
Full-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
Full-time Non-first-time Students
All Full-time Students
All First-time Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.