2026 Best Nursing Schools in New Mexico
Looking for the best Nursing degree programs in New Mexico? This list ranks 45 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Nursing Degree Search evaluated 35 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Nursing Degree Schools in New Mexico
Explore the leading schools below:
Our analysis found Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus to be the best Nursing school in New Mexico. Based in Portales, NM, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a public institution. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus graduates 39% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,074, while out-of-state students pay about $9,054. Typical Nursing student debt is $19,277. Read the full report on Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
Request InformationThe strong Nursing programs at University Of New Mexico Main Campus earned it the #2 place in New Mexico. This public school is set in Albuquerque, NM. University Of New Mexico Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. The median Nursing program debt is $19,738. More on University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Request InformationA rank of #3 makes Western New Mexico University one of the top choices in New Mexico. Western New Mexico University is a public school based in Silver City, NM. About 26% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $7,855, compared with $14,341 for out-of-state students. Typical Nursing student debt is $27,425. More on Western New Mexico University
Request InformationYou'll be in good company at New Mexico State University Main Campus, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Students borrow a median of $19,026 to complete their Nursing program here. See the full New Mexico State University Main Campus profile
Request InformationNew Mexico State University Carlsbad came in at #5 on this year's Nursing ranking in New Mexico. Located in Carlsbad, NM, New Mexico State University Carlsbad is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,176 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,008 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $10,284 in student loans. Get the full New Mexico State University Carlsbad report
Request InformationUniversity Of New Mexico Gallup Campus came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Gallup, NM, University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,906, with out-of-state students paying around $5,682. Students borrow a median of $10,986 to complete their Nursing program here. Read more about University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus
Request InformationClovis Community College landed the #7 spot in New Mexico this year. Based in Clovis, NM, Clovis Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,592 in tuition and fees, compared with $3,344 for out-of-state students. The median Nursing program debt is $11,082. More on Clovis Community College
Request InformationNew Mexico State University Dona Ana landed the #8 spot in New Mexico this year. This public school is set in Las Cruces, NM. Students from in state pay about $2,322 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,360 for out-of-state students. New Mexico State University Dona Ana Nursing students take on a median of $10,284 in debt. More on New Mexico State University Dona Ana
Request InformationBrookline College Albuquerque came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Albuquerque, NM, Brookline College Albuquerque is a private for-profit institution. Brookline College Albuquerque posts a six-year graduation rate of 9%. Students borrow a median of $22,271 to complete their Nursing program here. Read more about Brookline College Albuquerque
Request InformationSan Juan College did well this year, earning the #10 position. San Juan College is a public school based in Farmington, NM. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,910, with out-of-state students paying around $5,393. Students borrow a median of $16,150 to complete their Nursing program here. Get the full San Juan College report
Request InformationSanta Fe Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Located in Santa Fe, NM, Santa Fe Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,851 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,131. The median Nursing program debt is $15,267. Read more about Santa Fe Community College
Request InformationNew Mexico Junior College placed #12 among Nursing schools in New Mexico. This public school is set in Hobbs, NM. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,440, with out-of-state students paying around $2,280. New Mexico Junior College Nursing students take on a median of $9,986 in debt. Read the full report on New Mexico Junior College
Request InformationCentral New Mexico Community College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Central New Mexico Community College is a public school based in Albuquerque, NM. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Typical Nursing student debt is $10,112. Get the full Central New Mexico Community College report
Request InformationEastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a public school based in Roswell, NM. Students from in state pay about $2,256 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,616. Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus Nursing students take on a median of $11,110 in debt. Get the full Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus report
Request InformationLuna Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. More on Luna Community College
Request InformationNavajo Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. See the full Navajo Technical College profile
Request InformationNew Mexico Highlands University placed #17 among Nursing schools in New Mexico. More on New Mexico Highlands University
Request InformationAvenue Academy A Cosmetology Institute placed #18 among Nursing schools in New Mexico. Read more about Avenue Academy A Cosmetology Institute
Request InformationUniversity Of New Mexico Taos Campus did well this year, earning the #19 position. More on University Of New Mexico Taos Campus
Request InformationMesalands Community College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full Mesalands Community College report
Request InformationOlympian Academy Of Cosmetology Alamogordo did well this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full Olympian Academy Of Cosmetology Alamogordo report
Request InformationNew Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology placed #22 among Nursing schools in New Mexico. More on New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology
Request InformationA Better U Beauty Barber Academy landed the #23 spot in New Mexico this year. Read the full report on A Better U Beauty Barber Academy
Request InformationUniversity Of The Southwest landed the #24 spot in New Mexico this year. Read more about University Of The Southwest
Request InformationUniversity Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus did well this year, earning the #25 position. See the full University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus profile
Request InformationRest of the Top 15% Best Nursing Degree Schools in New Mexico
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus came in at #26 in this year's ranking. More on University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus
Request InformationAveda Institute New Mexico came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Get the full Aveda Institute New Mexico report
Request InformationPima Medical Institute Albuquerque landed the #28 spot in New Mexico this year. More on Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque
Request InformationSouthwestern College Santa Fe came in at #29 in this year's ranking. More on Southwestern College Santa Fe
Request InformationSt Johns College New Mexico landed the #30 spot in New Mexico this year. Get the full St Johns College New Mexico report
Request InformationBurrell College Of Osteopathic Medicine did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read more about Burrell College Of Osteopathic Medicine
Request InformationCarrington College Albuquerque came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Carrington College Albuquerque
Request InformationSouthwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute did well this year, earning the #33 position. More on Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Request InformationNew Mexico Military Institute did well this year, earning the #34 position. More on New Mexico Military Institute
Request InformationEastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. More on Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus
Request InformationNorthern New Mexico College landed the #36 spot in New Mexico this year. Read the full report on Northern New Mexico College
Request InformationSouthwest University Of Naprapathic Medicine placed #37 among Nursing schools in New Mexico. See the full Southwest University Of Naprapathic Medicine profile
Request InformationNew Mexico State University Grants placed #38 among Nursing schools in New Mexico. Read more about New Mexico State University Grants
Request InformationGlitz School Of Cosmetology ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read the full report on Glitz School Of Cosmetology
Request InformationToni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Albuquerque came in at #40 in this year's ranking. More on Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Albuquerque
Request InformationVogue College Of Cosmetology Santa Fe did well this year, earning the #41 position. Get the full Vogue College Of Cosmetology Santa Fe report
Request InformationNew Mexico State University Alamogordo placed #42 among Nursing schools in New Mexico. Read more about New Mexico State University Alamogordo
Request InformationInstitute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture landed the #43 spot in New Mexico this year. See the full Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture profile
Request InformationGlitz School Of Cosmetology Santa Fe Campus landed the #44 spot in New Mexico this year. More on Glitz School Of Cosmetology Santa Fe Campus
Request InformationToni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Rio Rancho landed the #45 spot in New Mexico this year. See the full Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Rio Rancho profile
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Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 35 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 45 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).