Nursing Schools in New Mexico: All 30 Approved Programs & NCLEX Pass Rates
New Mexico has 26 schools running 30 board-approved nursing programs — 24 RN-track and 6 PN/LPN-track. The average 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across New Mexico programs is 84.9%, 1.6 points below the national average of 86.5%. Every row below comes straight from the state board of nursing's published approved-program list — not self-reported school marketing.
Best Nursing Schools in New Mexico by NCLEX Pass Rate
Top RN programs ranked by 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, among programs with a published 2025 rate. Rates are one year of data — check multi-year trends before deciding.
- 1100%Silver City · BSN
- 296.4%Clovis · PN-ADN Ladder
- 394.3%Las Cruces · PN-ADN Ladder
- 492.9%Carlsbad · PN-ADN Ladder
- 592%Española · PN-ADN Ladder
- 692%Farmington · ADN
- 790%Santa Fe · ADN
- 888.3%Albuquerque · BSN
- 987.6%Las Cruces · BSN
- 1086.2%Hobbs · PN-ADN Ladder
What Nursing School Costs in New Mexico — and What Graduates Earn
Tuition, admissions and graduate-earnings figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, matched to 18 of 26 New Mexico schools. Earnings are program-level — the median for graduates of that school's own nursing program, not all its alumni.
Median federal loan debt for ADN graduates in New Mexico is $11,629 (5 programs). Sticker tuition is the whole school's published price, not the nursing program's alone, and it ignores aid — the number that decides whether a program pays off is what you actually pay plus the wages you give up while enrolled. Run your own numbers in the ROI calculator or read the full cost of becoming an RN.
Every Approved Nursing Program in New Mexico
Sort by any column, filter RN vs PN/LPN, or search a school or city.
30 of 30 programs · “—” = not published for that program · tuition is the school’s published in-state price for one year, before aid; grad pay is the median for that program’s own graduates, one year out
| Albuquerque Public Schools Career Enrichment Center | Albuquerque | PNPN | — | — | 88.9% |
| Brookline College | Albuquerque | BSNRN | — | — | 88.3% |
| Brookline College | Albuquerque | PNPN | — | — | 74% |
| Brookline College - Presbyterian Healthcare System PartnershipNew/provisional | Albuquerque | PNPN | — | — | 76.9% |
| Carrington College | Albuquerque | ADNRN | — | — | 82.1% |
| Carrington College | Albuquerque | PNPN | — | — | 100% |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) | Albuquerque | ADNRN | $2,060 | $74,923 | 85.5% |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) | Albuquerque | PNPN | $2,060 | $30,137 | 80% |
| Clovis Community College | Clovis | PN-ADN LadderRN | $1,592 | $73,387 | 96.4% |
| Eastern New Mexico University -Roswell | Roswell | ADNRN | $2,256 | — | 82.9% |
| Grand Canyon UniversityNew/provisional | Albuquerque | BSNRN | — | — | — |
| Luna Community College | Las Vegas | ADNRN | $1,474 | — | 70% |
| Mesalands Community College | Tucumcari | ADNRN | $2,136 | — | — |
| Navajo Technical UniversityNew/provisional | Crownpoint | ADNRN | $4,346 | — | — |
| New Mexico Junior College | Hobbs | PN-ADN LadderRN | $1,440 | $71,456 | 86.2% |
| New Mexico State University School of Nursing | Las Cruces | BSNRN | $8,183 | $73,229 | 87.6% |
| New Mexico State University-AlamogordoNew/provisional | Alamogordo | PN-ADN LadderRN | $2,616 | — | — |
| NMSU Doña Ana Community College | Las Cruces | PN-ADN LadderRN | — | — | 94.3% |
| Northern New Mexico College | Española | PN-ADN LadderRN | $6,400 | — | 92% |
| Pima Medical InstituteConditional | Albuquerque | PNPN | — | — | 100% |
| Pima Medical InstituteNew/provisional | Albuquerque | PN-ADN BridgeRN | — | — | — |
| San Juan College | Farmington | ADNRN | $1,928 | $67,860 | 92% |
| Santa Fe Community College | Santa Fe | ADNRN | $1,851 | $79,098 | 90% |
| Southeast New Mexico College | Carlsbad | PN-ADN LadderRN | $1,176 | $64,037 | 92.9% |
| University of New Mexico College of Nursing | Albuquerque | BSNRN | $10,140 | $82,216 | 85.6% |
| University of New Mexico Taos | Ranchos de Taos | ADNRN | $2,136 | $71,767 | — |
| University of New Mexico-Gallup | Gallup | ADNRN | $2,906 | $71,767 | 64.3% |
| University of New Mexico-ValenciaConditional | Los Lunas | ADNRN | $1,878 | $71,767 | 53.3% |
| Western Governors UniversityClinical only | Salt Lake City, UT | BSNRN | — | — | — |
| Western New Mexico University | Silver City | BSNRN | $7,856 | $73,666 | 100% |
Whichever school you choose, the NCLEX is the finish line
The pass rates above are made by students, not buildings. Students who do well start NCLEX-style practice in their first semester — studying for class exams and the boards at the same time. NurseSavvy turns your own course materials into matched NCLEX practice questions from day one — free to try, then $19/mo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best nursing school in New Mexico by NCLEX pass rate?
Western New Mexico University in Silver City had the highest 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in New Mexico at 100%, among programs with a published 2025 rate on the state board's list.
How many nursing schools are in New Mexico?
New Mexico has 26 schools offering 30 board-approved nursing programs: 24 RN-track (ADN/BSN and similar) and 6 PN/LPN-track programs, per the state board of nursing's current approved-program list.
What is the average NCLEX pass rate in New Mexico?
Across New Mexico RN programs with a published 2025 rate, the average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 84.9% — 1.6 points below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does nursing school cost in New Mexico?
Across New Mexico nursing schools we could match to U.S. Department of Education data, median published in-state tuition and fees run $2,136 a year at public schools (18 schools). That is the whole institution's sticker price per year, before aid — an ADN takes about two years and a BSN four, and most students pay less than sticker. Per-school figures are in the table above.
What do nursing graduates in New Mexico earn?
Federal earnings data tracks graduates of each specific nursing program. In New Mexico, median earnings one year after finishing are $71,767 for ADN graduates (11 programs). These are medians of program-level medians and the federal figures lag by a few years, so treat them as a floor for comparison between schools rather than a salary prediction.
What does a first-time NCLEX pass rate tell me about a school?
It is the share of a program’s graduates who passed the NCLEX on their first attempt — the single most comparable public outcome number nursing programs report. Boards of nursing track it for program approval, and consistently low rates can put a program on conditional status. Compare it alongside cost, location, and program length, not in isolation.
About this data
Program list and 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates are taken directly from the New Mexico board of nursing's published approved-program materials. “—” means the board did not publish a 2025 rate for that program (new programs, small cohorts, or PN lists without rate tables). Pass rates refresh annually; this page is rebuilt from the board lists when they update.
Tuition, admission rates, graduate earnings and debt come from the U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts, June 10 2026 data release), matched by school name and city to 18 of 26 New Mexico schools. Schools the federal data does not cover — hospital-based programs and schools outside federal student-aid reporting — show “—” rather than an estimate. Tuition and admission rates describe the whole institution; earnings and debt are specific to its nursing programs, by credential, and lag the current graduating class by several years.
- collegescorecard.ed.gov — Most Recent Cohorts, June 10 2026 data release
- files.bon.nm.gov — list: 2026-02-02 (rates: 2026-02-23 EOY-2025 report)