Find Nursing Colleges

What Do You Want to Study?

Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico

Find Schools Near

2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico

12 Colleges
$57,700 Avg Salary
$16,287 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Associate Degree School for You

Nursing is the most popular major in New Mexico with 1,390 degrees and certificates handed out in 2021-2022.

There are so many nursing programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking. This report analyzed 12 schools in New Mexico to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for nursing students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school is, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico

The following schools top our list of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Colleges.

Top 10 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools

Our analysis found Carrington College, Albuquerque to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in New Mexico. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Carrington College, Albuquerque is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Carrington College, Albuquerque take out $28,284 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $252.

Read full report on Nursing at Carrington College, Albuquerque

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend New Mexico State University - Carlsbad. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico list. Located in the rural area of Carlsbad, NMSU Carlsbad is a public school with a small student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at NMSU Carlsbad accumulate an average of around $17,984 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at New Mexico State University - Carlsbad

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico list. Located in the rural area of Gallup, UNM Gallup is a public college with a small student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at UNM Gallup accumulate an average of around $13,360 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of New Mexico - Taos Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico list. UNM Taos is a small public school located in the rural area of Ranchos de Taos.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from UNM Taos carry an average student debtload of $13,360.

Read More…

The excellent associate degree programs at Clovis Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in New Mexico. Located in the remote town of Clovis, Clovis Community College is a public college with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Clovis Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $11,408.

Full Nursing at Clovis Community College Report

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the rural area of Las Cruces, NMSU Dona Ana is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at NMSU Dona Ana take out while working on their Associate Degree is $17,984.

Full Nursing at New Mexico State University - Dona Ana Report

Central New Mexico Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking. CNM is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Albuquerque.

Nursing majors at CNM take out an average of $10,457 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Central New Mexico Community College

#8

San Juan College

Farmington, NM

San Juan College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico list. SJC is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Farmington.

On average, nursing graduates from SJC take out $14,556 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Nursing at San Juan College Report

Santa Fe Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. SFCC is a small public school located in the suburb of Santa Fe.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at SFCC take out while working on their Associate Degree is $10,113.

Read full report on Nursing at Santa Fe Community College

New Mexico Junior College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Mexico ranking. Located in the remote town of Hobbs, New Mexico Junior College is a public college with a small student population.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from New Mexico Junior College carry an average student debtload of $11,098.

Read full report on Nursing at New Mexico Junior College

Best Nursing Colleges in the Southwest Region

Explore all the Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Arizona 12,966
Texas 21,862
Oklahoma 3,009

Nursing Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 262,974
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,647
Nursing Practice 8,862
Nursing Administration 8,663
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 4,717
Nursing Science 4,701
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,895
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,075
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 2,011
Nurse Anesthetist 1,768
Critical Care Nursing 747
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 622
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 567
School Nursing 539
Clinical Nurse Leader 502
Clinical Nurse Specialist 340
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 269
Women’s Health Nurse/Nursing 262
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 192
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 87
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 26
Forensic Nursing 23
Palliative Care Nursing 13

Related Major Annual Graduates
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 85,339

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 12 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Nursing Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited nursing schools across the U.S.