NurseSavvy ranking · New Mexico · updated October 10, 2026

Best Nursing Schools in New Mexico (2026): The NurseSavvy Top 10

We ranked all 17 RN programs in New Mexico that publish a first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, on the four things that decide whether a program gets you to a nursing license you can afford: passing the NCLEX, actually finishing, the cost next to what nurses earn in New Mexico, and what graduates earn a year out.

Western New Mexico University comes out on top. Here are the top 10, with every number’s source — and you can re-rank them by what matters to you.

No school can pay for placement. Public data only — see the full methodology.

Rank it your way

Rank New Mexico’s 17 RN programs on what matters to you

NCLEX pass rate, students who finish, cost vs nurse pay, grads’ early pay — compare in-state, by region, or nationwide.

The top 10 nursing programs in New Mexico

Scores are out of 100 under the default NurseSavvy weights. A school with two programs (say, an ADN and a BSN) can appear twice.

1
Western New Mexico University
Silver CityBSN· Public
74score
A 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across 16 test-takers carries its score.
NCLEX strength
100% of 16
Students who finish
Not publishedfill-in
Cost-to-pay value
$8,522/yr net price
Early-career earnings
$73,666 1 yr out
2
New Mexico State University School of Nursing
Las CrucesBSN· Public
65score
A 87.6% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate carries its score.
NCLEX strength
87.6%
Students who finish
Not publishedfill-in
Cost-to-pay value
$8,889/yr net price
Early-career earnings
$73,229 1 yr out
3
University of New Mexico College of Nursing
AlbuquerqueBSN· Public
62score
A 85.6% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate carries its score.
NCLEX strength
85.6%
Students who finish
Not publishedfill-in
Cost-to-pay value
$15,489/yr net price
Early-career earnings
$82,216 1 yr out
4
Southeast New Mexico College
CarlsbadPN-ADN Ladder· Public
62score
A 92.9% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate carries its score.
NCLEX strength
92.9%
Students who finish
Not publishedfill-in
Cost-to-pay value
$5,734/yr net price
Early-career earnings
$64,037 1 yr out
5
NMSU Doña Ana Community College
Las CrucesPN-ADN Ladder
62score
A 94.3% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate carries its score.
NCLEX strength
94.3%
Students who finish
Not publishedfill-in
Cost-to-pay value
Not publishedfill-in
Early-career earnings
Not publishedfill-in
6
Northern New Mexico College
EspañolaPN-ADN Ladder· Public
61score
A 92% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate carries its score.
NCLEX strength
92%
Students who finish
Not publishedfill-in
Cost-to-pay value
$7,276/yr net price
Early-career earnings
Not publishedfill-in
7
San Juan College
FarmingtonADN· Public
61score
A 92% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across 25 test-takers carries its score.
NCLEX strength
92% of 25
Students who finish
Not publishedfill-in
Cost-to-pay value
$5,769/yr net price
Early-career earnings
$67,860 1 yr out
8
Santa Fe Community College
Santa FeADN· Public
59score
A 90% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across 10 test-takers carries its score.
NCLEX strength
90% of 10
Students who finish
Not publishedfill-in
Cost-to-pay value
$11,067/yr net price
Early-career earnings
$79,098 1 yr out
9
Brookline College
AlbuquerqueBSN
59score
A 88.3% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate carries its score.
NCLEX strength
88.3%
Students who finish
Not publishedfill-in
Cost-to-pay value
Not publishedfill-in
Early-career earnings
Not publishedfill-in
10
Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)
AlbuquerqueADN· Public
58score
A $4,621 average net price is low next to $94,340 median RN pay in New Mexico.
NCLEX strength
85.5%
Students who finish
Not publishedfill-in
Cost-to-pay value
$4,621/yr net price
Early-career earnings
$74,923 1 yr out

Fill-in: a figure the program hasn’t published is scored at the 33rd percentile of programs that publish it (same degree type) — not its own number.

All 30 approved programs in New Mexico Full rankings table

The New Mexico leaders on each measure

Different students weigh these differently — here is who leads on each one alone, among programs that publish it.

Highest NCLEX pass rate: Western New Mexico University (BSN), 100% first-time.
Most students finish: Clovis Community College (PN-ADN Ladder), 21% on time.
Lowest average net price: Clovis Community College, $3,230/yr.
Highest graduates’ pay: University of New Mexico College of Nursing, $82,216 one year out.
Top ADN vs top BSN: Southeast New Mexico College (#4 overall) and Western New Mexico University (#1 overall).

How we ranked New Mexico’s nursing schools

NCLEX pass rate (33%). The 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN rate from the New Mexico board of nursing, steadied for small cohorts.
Students who finish (33%). The program’s own on-time completion rate, where a board or the program publishes it.
Cost vs nurse pay (20%). Average net price per year next to New Mexico’s median RN pay (College Scorecard + BLS).
Graduates’ early pay (14%). What the program’s nursing graduates earn one year out, next to the state’s RN median.

A missing figure is a labeled 33rd-percentile fill-in, never a guess. Programs without a published NCLEX rate, and direct-entry master’s programs, are not ranked. Every formula and source →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best nursing school in New Mexico?

Under the NurseSavvy ranking, Western New Mexico University (BSN, Silver City) ranks #1 of 17 RN programs in New Mexico with a score of 74 out of 100 and a 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate. "Best" depends on what you weigh most — re-rank the list on this page by your own priorities.

How did NurseSavvy rank New Mexico nursing schools?

Every RN program with a published 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is scored 0–100 on four public measures: NCLEX pass rate (33%), students who finish (33%), cost next to local RN pay (20%), and graduates’ pay one year out (14%). Pass rates come from the New Mexico board of nursing; cost and pay from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

What does “fill-in” mean on this list?

When a program has not published a figure, we do not guess it. It is scored at the 33rd percentile of programs (same degree type) that do publish it — below typical — and labeled “fill-in” wherever it appears. Publishing its real number can only help a program that performs well.

Can a school pay to rank higher?

No. Schools cannot pay, partner, sponsor, or advertise their way to a better rank. Every input is public data, and the same formula applies to every program.