History:

Northern New Mexico College and its mission have always played an integral role in the State of New Mexico's goal to provide educational opportunities for its residents.

In the early 1900's the New Mexico Territorial Legislature determined that a facility was needed as a "normal school" with a primary function of training teachers for the State's Spanish-speaking population. The Spanish American Normal School at El Rito opened its doors in September 1909, and celebrated its centennial as Northern New Mexico College.

In 1953, the State Legislature changed the name of the institution to Northern New Mexico State School and, mandating that the institution provide training not available in public schools, implemented a secondary school curriculum. Six years later, the Board of Regents renamed the school Northern New Mexico College. NNMC continued to teach grades 7-12 along with the new college curriculum.