New Mexico now ranks 20th nationally for adult education outcomes, a jump from 50th place in 2019, the New Mexico Higher Education Department said in a news release. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education ranked the state 20th in measurable skill gains for the 2024-25 academic year, up six spots from 26th the year before.
The measure follows how students progress toward goals like earning a credential, building academic skills or moving toward a job. The state also moved from 28th to 19th for skill gains among students learning English as a second language, and from 32nd to 25th since 2024 for participants who found jobs after finishing their coursework.
“These investments are bringing results to New Mexico at a remarkable rate,” said Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez, adding that the state has made adult education more accessible to tens of thousands of New Mexicans. The state’s adult education workforce training programs prepare people for certifications in in-demand fields such as child care and commercial driving, and they helped push new certificates up 44% in 2025.
This year’s state budget also sets aside $20 million for adult education programs and high school equivalency testing across New Mexico. Adult Education Director Amber Gallup said the state will keep offering programs that reach people where they are and help them pursue new career goals.
Editor’s note: Updated Oct. 31, 2026. This story was revised to cite the New Mexico Higher Education Department news release it is based on. Learn how Brant.One reports in our editorial standards.
