
Southwestern College-New Mexico is a private graduate institution in Santa Fe focused on counseling, art therapy, and related professional education. Founded in 1979, it has developed as a specialized graduate school rather than a broad-based undergraduate college.
The institution also uses the name Southwestern College & New Earth Institute. That identity matters when comparing schools with similar names: this is the Santa Fe institution, not Southwestern College in Kansas or another college elsewhere in the United States.
Southwestern College-New Mexico organizes its academic offerings around graduate study in counseling and art therapy rather than a large set of undergraduate departments. Its principal degree offerings include a Master of Arts in Counseling and a Master of Arts in Art Therapy/Counseling.
The New Earth Institute is associated with the college's continuing education and specialized training. Prospective students should compare the current catalog's degree plans, certificate offerings, supervised-practice requirements, and course formats. For applicants seeking professional licensure, the exact program and state in which they intend to practice matter more than a general description of the college.
Southwestern College-New Mexico is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Its setting is a small, specialized graduate campus rather than a residential undergraduate university.
Students considering in-person classes should account for travel within Santa Fe and any required visits to clinical training sites. Applicants who live elsewhere should check which courses require attendance on campus and whether field placements can be completed near home; those details can affect both scheduling and transportation costs.
Southwestern College describes its educational purpose in terms of personal development alongside professional preparation. Its approach to counseling and art therapy emphasizes experiential learning, creativity, and attention to the person as a whole.
Those are the institution's stated educational priorities, not independent measures of graduate outcomes. Applicants may find it useful to compare that approach with a program's required clinical coursework, supervision, and licensing preparation to see whether the teaching philosophy fits their goals.
Name of the institution
Southwestern College-New MexicoLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: SmallInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, graduate with no undergraduate degreesInstitution size category
Under 1,000Southwestern College-New Mexico is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - research/scholarshipData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.