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