2027 Best Value Nursing Schools in New Mexico
[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for nursing students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Nursing Schools in New Mexico
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Nursing Schools
For return on investment in nursing, no school beat Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus this year. Located in the town of Roswell, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,256, while out-of-state students pay about $5,616. Students borrow a median of $11,110 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus earn a median of $21,129 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,110 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Central New Mexico Community College one of the best values for nursing. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $14,519. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $74,923. That is a strong return on a $14,519 median debt.
Clovis Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing schools. Clovis Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Clovis. In-state tuition and fees average $1,592, compared with $3,344 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Clovis Community College earn a median of $73,387 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Luna Community College earned it the #4 place for nursing. Set in the rural area of Las Vegas, Luna Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,474 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $3,418. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Luna Community College generally make around $32,091.
University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing schools. Set in the town of Gallup, University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,906, while out-of-state students pay about $5,682. Nursing graduates carry a median of $11,536 in student loans. Nursing graduates of University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus earn a median of $71,767 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,536 median debt.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing schools. Set in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,074, while out-of-state students pay about $9,054. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $90,938. That is a strong return on a $18,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus earned the #7 position for value in nursing this year. Located in the rural area of Los Lunas, University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,878, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,536 to complete the nursing program here. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus generally make around $71,767. Set against $11,536 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Juan College came in at #8 for value in nursing this year. Located in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,910, with out-of-state students paying around $5,393. Students borrow a median of $19,993 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $67,860. Set against $19,993 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana placed #9 among the best values for nursing. Set in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,322, compared with $6,360 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,467 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $78,510. Set against $16,467 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico State University Carlsbad came in at #10 for value in nursing this year. Located in the rural area of Carlsbad, New Mexico State University Carlsbad is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,176, while out-of-state students pay about $4,008. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from New Mexico State University Carlsbad generally make around $64,037.
New Mexico Junior College placed #11 among the best values for nursing. Located in the town of Hobbs, New Mexico Junior College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,440, while out-of-state students pay about $2,280. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $13,472. Early-career nursing graduates make about $71,456. Set against $13,472 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern New Mexico College came in at #12 for value in nursing this year. Located in the town of Espanola, Northern New Mexico College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,064, with out-of-state students paying around $14,328. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,112 ten years after entry.
Western New Mexico University placed #13 among the best values for nursing. Located in the town of Silver City, Western New Mexico University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,855, compared with $14,341 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,088 to complete the nursing program here. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Western New Mexico University generally make around $73,666. Set against $31,088 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico State University Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,183 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $18,484. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from New Mexico State University Main Campus generally make around $75,870. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of New Mexico Taos Campus placed #15 among the best values for nursing. Located in the rural area of Ranchos de Taos, University Of New Mexico Taos Campus is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $2,136 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,136. Students borrow a median of $11,536 to complete the nursing program here. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Taos Campus generally make around $71,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Fe Community College earned the #16 position for value in nursing this year. Set in the rural area of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,851, while out-of-state students pay about $4,131. Nursing graduates carry a median of $28,074 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Santa Fe Community College earn a median of $79,098 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,074 median debt.
New Mexico Highlands University came in at #17 for value in nursing this year. New Mexico Highlands University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Las Vegas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,416, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $21,392. Nursing graduates of New Mexico Highlands University earn a median of $88,137 early in their careers. Set against $21,392 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #18 spot for nursing value this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Students borrow a median of $18,404 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $84,023 early in their careers. Set against $18,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Brookline College Albuquerque placed #19 among the best values for nursing. Brookline College Albuquerque is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Albuquerque. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $41,937. Nursing graduates of Brookline College Albuquerque earn a median of $78,980 early in their careers. Set against $41,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carrington College Albuquerque ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Carrington College Albuquerque is a small private for-profit university. Nursing graduates carry a median of $32,969 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Carrington College Albuquerque generally make around $76,515. That is a strong return on a $32,969 median debt.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
- 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
