2026 Best Nursing Schools in New Mexico
Nursing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their nursing programs.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best nursing schools.
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Best Schools for Nursing in New Mexico
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nursing education in New Mexico.
Top Schools in Nursing
No school ranked higher than Central New Mexico Community College this year for nursing. This very large public university is located in the city of Albuquerque. About 241 nursing degrees were awarded at Central New Mexico Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Central New Mexico Community College earn around $74,923 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Central New Mexico Community College
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 474 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of New Mexico Main Campus in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $84,023 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,404 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at New Mexico Highlands University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Las Vegas, New Mexico Highlands University is a mid-sized public institution. About 27% of students finish within six years. New Mexico Highlands University awarded about 49 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of New Mexico Highlands University earn a median of $88,137 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,392 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for New Mexico Highlands University
A rank of #4 makes New Mexico State University Dona Ana one of the top schools for nursing. New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Las Cruces. There were roughly 39 nursing students who graduated with this degree at New Mexico State University Dona Ana in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from New Mexico State University Dona Ana earn around $78,510 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,467 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for New Mexico State University Dona Ana
A rank of #5 makes San Juan College one of the top schools for nursing. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Farmington. San Juan College awarded about 47 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from San Juan College generally make around $67,860. Students borrow a median of $19,993 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at San Juan College
New Mexico State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Las Cruces. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 171 nursing students who graduated with this degree at New Mexico State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $75,870 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,484.
More information about a degree in nursing from New Mexico State University Main Campus
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the town of Roswell, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a mid-sized public institution. Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus awarded about 31 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus earn a median of $21,129 early in their careers. Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus graduates carry a median of $11,110 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus
Carrington College Albuquerque placed #8 among the best nursing schools. Carrington College Albuquerque is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Albuquerque. There were roughly 78 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Carrington College Albuquerque in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Carrington College Albuquerque earn around $76,515 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $32,969.
See the full nursing program report for Carrington College Albuquerque
University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus placed #9 among the best nursing schools. University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Gallup. There were roughly 16 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus earn around $71,767 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,536 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus placed #10 among the best nursing schools. Located in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus graduates 39% of students within six years. About 33 nursing degrees were awarded at Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earn around $90,938 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,750.
More information about a degree in nursing from Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
University Of New Mexico Taos Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. University Of New Mexico Taos Campus is a small public school located in the rural area of Ranchos de Taos. About 20 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of New Mexico Taos Campus in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of University Of New Mexico Taos Campus earn a median of $71,767 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,536 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for University Of New Mexico Taos Campus
New Mexico Junior College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the town of Hobbs, New Mexico Junior College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 27 nursing students who graduated with this degree at New Mexico Junior College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of New Mexico Junior College earn a median of $71,456 early in their careers. New Mexico Junior College graduates carry a median of $13,472 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for New Mexico Junior College
University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus came in at #13 for nursing this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Los Lunas. University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus awarded about 11 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus earn around $71,767 in the first couple years of their career. University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus graduates carry a median of $11,536 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of New Mexico Valencia County Campus
Northern New Mexico College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the town of Espanola, Northern New Mexico College is a small public university. Northern New Mexico College graduates 31% of students within six years. Northern New Mexico College awarded about 16 nursing degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full nursing details for Northern New Mexico College
Clovis Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Clovis. About 30 nursing degrees were awarded at Clovis Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Clovis Community College generally make around $73,387. Typical student debt for the program is $12,250.
More information about a degree in nursing from Clovis Community College
Western New Mexico University landed the #16 spot for nursing this year. Western New Mexico University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Silver City. About 26% of students finish within six years. Western New Mexico University awarded about 20 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Western New Mexico University earn around $73,666 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,088.
Get the full nursing details for Western New Mexico University
Santa Fe Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the rural area of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 33 nursing degrees were awarded at Santa Fe Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $79,098 in their early career. Santa Fe Community College graduates carry a median of $28,074 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at Santa Fe Community College
Luna Community College landed the #18 spot for nursing this year. Set in the rural area of Las Vegas, Luna Community College is a small public institution. There were roughly 19 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Luna Community College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Luna Community College earn a median of $32,091 early in their careers.
See the full nursing program report for Luna Community College
Brookline College Albuquerque ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Albuquerque. Roughly 9% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 137 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Brookline College Albuquerque in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $78,980 in their early career. Brookline College Albuquerque graduates carry a median of $41,937 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Brookline College Albuquerque
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 22 schools evaluated.
- 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.