Rankings / By State
Best Nursing Colleges in New Mexico
- 13
- Schools
- $41,025
- Avg. Earnings
- 31%
- Avg. Graduation
- $8,434
- Avg. Net Price
- $16,108
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 13 schools run from $34,233 to $45,937, a 1.3× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus delivers the most for the money: roughly $44,792 in median earnings against $4,868 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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The most affordable option, University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus ($4,868 net price), still posts $44,792 in earnings, at or above the list average. Paying more does not guarantee a better outcome.
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New Mexico State University-Main Campus graduates 54% of its students, versus a 31% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Northern New Mexico College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.16× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus costs $4,868 a year and University of New Mexico-Main Campus costs $15,489. Yet their graduates earn $44,792 and $44,792, nowhere near the $10,621 price gap.
- On value, University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus beats New Mexico Highlands University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
- Graduation rates split the field: New Mexico State University-Main Campus finishes 54% of students while New Mexico State University-Alamogordo finishes 16%. Same ranking, very different odds of leaving with a degree.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus and New Mexico State University-Main Campus. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
Healthcare is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $39K within a decade, and registered nurse roles are projected to grow 6%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 New Mexico Highlands University #1 overall | $45,937 ▲ +12% vs avg | $14,838 | 26% | 79 |
| 2 | $44,792 ▲ +9% vs avg | $5,714 | 20% | 71 |
| 3 New Mexico Junior College #3 overall | $34,233 ▼ -17% vs avg | $6,524 | 42% | 69 |
| $38,550 ▼ -6% vs avg | $4,904 | 42% | 68 | |
| $44,792 ▲ +9% vs avg | $15,489 | 54% | 65 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Nursing Colleges in New Mexico
This analysis ranks 13 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $41,025 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 31% and an average net price of $8,434.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus — Net Price: $4,868 | Graduation Rate: 19%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: New Mexico State University-Main Campus — 54% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: New Mexico Highlands University — Median alumni earnings: $45,937
Research Note
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Healthcare Workforce Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the U.S. healthcare workforce?
$39,081
Median earnings (10yr)
27%
Median graduation rate
$7,276
Median net price
3.5%
Avg. mobility rate
The healthcare workforce pipeline starts in classrooms and clinical rotations like the ones behind this list. An aging population, persistent nursing shortages, and rising demand for clinical services have made these programs essential infrastructure. The strongest ones stand out on clinical partnerships and licensure outcomes, the two factors that translate most directly into hiring.
The median graduation rate across these 13 schools is 27%. Median graduate earnings reach $39,081 ten years after enrollment. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $7,276 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $17,095. Some 32% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 3.5%.
What we’re seeing: demographic pressure keeps demand high, and programs with embedded clinical networks convert that demand into employment fastest. New Mexico Highlands University leads the list, and graduates across these programs earn a median of $39,081 ten years after enrollment. The constraint is not jobs. It is clinical capacity and licensure throughput, and that is where the strongest programs pull away.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
New Mexico Highlands University lands at #1 with a 79/100 composite, led by social mobility (74/100) and pulled down by academic quality (51/100). Graduates earn a median $45,937 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,838 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus lands at #2 with a 71/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (41/100). Graduates earn a median $44,792 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $5,714 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
New Mexico Junior College lands at #3 with a 69/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (61/100). Graduates earn a median $34,233 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,524 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Portales, NM · 92% accepted · $4,904 net
Why it ranks #4
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus lands at #4 with a 68/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by social mobility (51/100). Graduates earn a median $38,550 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,904 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Albuquerque, NM · 95% accepted · $15,489 net
Why it ranks #5
University of New Mexico-Main Campus lands at #5 with a 65/100 composite, led by academic quality (68/100) and pulled down by social mobility (50/100). Graduates earn a median $44,792 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,489 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Western New Mexico University lands at #6 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (73/100) and pulled down by academic quality (49/100). Graduates earn a median $39,095 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,522 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Southeast New Mexico College lands at #7 with a 64/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Net price runs $5,734 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus lands at #8 with a 61/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by social mobility (38/100). Graduates earn a median $44,792 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $4,868 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
University of New Mexico-Los Alamos Campus lands at #9 with a 61/100 composite, led by value per dollar (71/100) and pulled down by academic quality (37/100). Graduates earn a median $44,792 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,470 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Las Cruces, NM · 89% accepted · $8,889 net
Why it ranks #10
New Mexico State University-Main Campus lands at #10 with a 59/100 composite, led by value per dollar (77/100) and pulled down by social mobility (43/100). Graduates earn a median $39,067 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,889 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
New Mexico State University-Alamogordo lands at #11 with a 56/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (39/100). Graduates earn a median $39,067 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,369 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana lands at #12 with a 55/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by social mobility (31/100). Graduates earn a median $39,067 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,048 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Northern New Mexico College lands at #13 with a 54/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by social mobility (28/100). Graduates earn a median $38,112 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,276 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 13 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Registered Nurses and related roles — a field with $86,070 median pay and 6% projected growth.
See the Registered Nurse career guide →Choosing the right nursing college can be a pivotal decision for aspiring healthcare professionals. In New Mexico, these programs share a commitment to preparing students for a rewarding career in nursing. With a focus on outcomes like graduation rates and post-graduation earnings, prospective students have several options to consider.
The strongest nursing programs in this list are distinguished by key metrics that matter most to students and their families. Factors like average earnings, graduation rates, student debt levels, and the ability to move up the economic ladder are crucial. As you look through the schools below, consider how these elements might align with your personal and financial goals.
For example, New Mexico State University-Grants has an average earning potential of $39,067, but only a 25% graduation rate. In contrast, the University of New Mexico-Main Campus boasts a higher graduation rate of 54% with similar earnings of $44,792. This stark difference highlights the trade-offs between potential earnings and successful program completion, giving you a reason to delve deeper into the specifics of each institution.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 3 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 3.5%. New Mexico Junior College leads the group at 4.3%, with Western New Mexico University (3.1%) and New Mexico Highlands University (3.1%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 22.1% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Western New Mexico University leads at 23.1%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 15.9% across this list. New Mexico Junior College posts the highest success rate at 19.7%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 0.87 against a national benchmark of 1.0. New Mexico Junior College reaches 1.24, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
When comparing schools, the differences in outcomes can be quite telling. For instance, while the University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus has a lower graduation rate at 20%, it features a much lower net price of $5,714 compared to New Mexico Highlands University’s $14,838. This could appeal to students looking to minimize debt even if it might come at the cost of a higher probability of not graduating.
After reviewing these schools, think about how their data fits into your own life. Are you prioritizing affordability or a higher graduation rate? If location matters, consider how far each campus is from home and the kinds of support services they offer. Balance these factors with your career aspirations and financial situation to find the best fit.
Ultimately, the data reflects the importance of choosing a college that aligns with your goals. Education is an investment in a stable future. With nursing graduates earning an average of $40,273, the right choice can lead to a fulfilling career. One family’s decision could impact their financial security for years to come.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Nursing Colleges in New Mexico: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Nursing Colleges in New Mexico ranking? +
New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Nursing Colleges in New Mexico ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $45,937 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 26% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
New Mexico Highlands University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $45,937 ten years after enrollment, well above the $41,025 average across the 12 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus leads: graduates earn a median $44,792 against net price of about $4,868 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
New Mexico State University-Main Campus has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 54%, compared with a 31% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $8,434 a year across the 13 ranked schools with cost data. University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus is among the most affordable at roughly $4,868. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Nursing Colleges in New Mexico ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 13 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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