2026 Best Value Nursing Schools in New Mexico
Looking for the best-value Nursing degree programs in New Mexico? This list ranks 45 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Nursing Degree Search evaluated 14 schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Nursing Degree Schools in New Mexico
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Clovis Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Nursing degree schools in New Mexico. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $34,020. Set against $11,082 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Clovis Community College
San Juan College came in at #2 on this year's best-value Nursing ranking in New Mexico. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,513. Set against $16,150 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full San Juan College report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central New Mexico Community College earned it the #3 place in New Mexico. 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. Central New Mexico Community College alumni report median earnings of $36,869 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt. Get the full Central New Mexico Community College report
You'll get strong value at University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus, which ranked #4 this year. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,792. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New Mexico State University Carlsbad earned it the #5 place 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
New Mexico Junior College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,233 ten years after entry. Set against $9,986 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on New Mexico Junior College
New Mexico State University Dona Ana landed the #7 spot for value 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. New Mexico State University Dona Ana alumni report median earnings of $39,067 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on New Mexico State University Dona Ana
Santa Fe Community College placed #8 among the best-value Nursing schools in New Mexico. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,005 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $15,267 median debt. Read more about Santa Fe Community College
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,550 ten years after entry. Set against $11,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus report
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Based in Portales, NM, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a public institution. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,550. Set against $19,277 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 92% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
Western New Mexico University landed the #11 spot for value in New Mexico this year. Western New Mexico University is a public school based in Silver City, NM. In-state tuition and fees average $7,855, compared with $14,341 for out-of-state students. Typical Nursing student debt is $27,425. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,095 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $27,425 median debt. More on Western New Mexico University
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Albuquerque, NM. 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. Median earnings reach $44,792 ten years out. Set against $19,738 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants. More on University Of New Mexico Main Campus
New Mexico State University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Set in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $39,067. That is a strong return on a $19,026 median debt. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants. See the full New Mexico State University Main Campus profile
Brookline College Albuquerque ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Based in Albuquerque, NM, Brookline College Albuquerque is a private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $22,271 to complete their Nursing program here. Median earnings reach $29,576 ten years out. Set against $22,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Brookline College Albuquerque
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology landed the #15 spot for value in New Mexico this year. More on New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. More on Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
New Mexico State University Grants placed #17 among the best-value Nursing schools in New Mexico. Read more about New Mexico State University Grants
University Of The Southwest placed #18 among the best-value Nursing schools in New Mexico. Read more about University Of The Southwest
University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. More on University Of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus
University Of New Mexico Taos Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. More on University Of New Mexico Taos Campus
Aveda Institute New Mexico placed #21 among the best-value Nursing schools in New Mexico. Get the full Aveda Institute New Mexico report
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Rio Rancho landed the #22 spot for value in New Mexico this year. See the full Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Rio Rancho profile
Northern New Mexico College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Read the full report on Northern New Mexico College
New Mexico Highlands University placed #24 among the best-value Nursing schools in New Mexico. More on New Mexico Highlands University
Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture placed #25 among the best-value Nursing schools in New Mexico. See the full Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Nursing Degree Schools in New Mexico
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Carrington College Albuquerque came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Carrington College Albuquerque
Glitz School Of Cosmetology offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on Glitz School Of Cosmetology
New Mexico Military Institute placed #28 among the best-value Nursing schools in New Mexico. More on New Mexico Military Institute
New Mexico State University Alamogordo placed #29 among the best-value Nursing schools in New Mexico. Read more about New Mexico State University Alamogordo
A Better U Beauty Barber Academy ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Read the full report on A Better U Beauty Barber Academy
Burrell College Of Osteopathic Medicine placed #31 among the best-value Nursing schools in New Mexico. Read more about Burrell College Of Osteopathic Medicine
Luna Community College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. More on Luna Community College
Southwest University Of Naprapathic Medicine ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. See the full Southwest University Of Naprapathic Medicine profile
St Johns College New Mexico came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. Get the full St Johns College New Mexico report
University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus landed the #35 spot for value in New Mexico this year. See the full University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus profile
Mesalands Community College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Get the full Mesalands Community College report
Glitz School Of Cosmetology Santa Fe Campus landed the #37 spot for value in New Mexico this year. More on Glitz School Of Cosmetology Santa Fe Campus
Southwestern College Santa Fe placed #38 among the best-value Nursing schools in New Mexico. More on Southwestern College Santa Fe
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Albuquerque offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. More on Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Albuquerque
Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque placed #40 among the best-value Nursing schools in New Mexico. More on Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque
Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus landed the #41 spot for value in New Mexico this year. More on Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus
Navajo Technical College placed #42 among the best-value Nursing schools in New Mexico. See the full Navajo Technical College profile
Vogue College Of Cosmetology Santa Fe came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Vogue College Of Cosmetology Santa Fe report
Avenue Academy A Cosmetology Institute landed the #44 spot for value in New Mexico this year. Read more about Avenue Academy A Cosmetology Institute
Olympian Academy Of Cosmetology Alamogordo came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Olympian Academy Of Cosmetology Alamogordo report
More Nursing Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 14 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).
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