New Mexico has a small number of universities producing BSN graduates, serving a large, rural and culturally diverse state. This guide ranks them using official federal data and reviews the top five.
Imagine you want to become a nurse in New Mexico, where many communities are rural and Hispanic and Native American patients make up a large share of the population. The state’s universities train nurses for exactly these settings. Here is how they compare.
How we ranked these schools
We used the latest official data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. We included colleges in New Mexico that award a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), and ranked those producing at least 20 BSN graduates a year by their graduation rate. We also show how much their nursing graduates earn and what tuition costs. Graduation rates are for each college as a whole, not nursing students alone.
New Mexico nursing schools ranked (2026)
| Rank | College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus | Las Cruces | Public | 54% | 137 | $75,187 | $8,226 |
| 2 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus | Albuquerque | Public | 54% | 403 | $84,800 | $10,383 |
| 3 | Western New Mexico University | Silver City | Public | 38% | 20 | $76,741 | $7,891 |
| 4 | New Mexico Highlands University | Las Vegas | Public | 28% | 49 | $91,241 | $7,281 |
Also offering a BSN in New Mexico (not ranked: either a comparable graduation rate isn’t reported, often because they mainly enrol transfer, upper-division or adult students, or they’re for-profit career colleges whose college-wide rates aren’t comparable with universities):
| College | City | Type | Graduation rate | BSN graduates a year | BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year) | In-state tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookline College-Albuquerque | Albuquerque | Private for-profit | 46% | 137 | $81,073 | n/a |
Top New Mexico nursing schools reviewed
1. New Mexico State University-Main Campus
New Mexico State University in Las Cruces offers a public BSN in the southern part of the state and tops our list for graduation rate.
- Graduation rate: 54%, number 1 in New Mexico on our list
- Programme size: about 137 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $75,187 one year after graduating
- Cost: $8,226 in-state tuition ($25,350 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 89%
2. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
The University of New Mexico College of Nursing in Albuquerque is linked to the state’s only academic medical centre.
- Graduation rate: 54%, number 2 in New Mexico on our list
- Programme size: about 403 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, one of the largest in the state
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $84,800 one year after graduating
- Cost: $10,383 in-state tuition ($33,532 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: 95%
3. Western New Mexico University
Western New Mexico University in Silver City offers a public BSN in the rural southwest of the state.
- Graduation rate: 38%, number 3 in New Mexico on our list
- Programme size: about 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $76,741 one year after graduating
- Cost: $7,891 in-state tuition ($14,342 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: open or not reported
4. New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico, offers a smaller public nursing programme in the north of the state.
- Graduation rate: 28%, number 4 in New Mexico on our list
- Programme size: about 49 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
- Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $91,241 one year after graduating
- Cost: $7,281 in-state tuition ($12,201 out of state)
- Acceptance rate: open or not reported
New Mexico also has a statewide shared nursing curriculum (the New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium), which allows students at many community colleges to progress to a BSN.
Ways to become a registered nurse in New Mexico
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): a four-year degree, the route covered in this guide, preferred by many hospitals and required for most leadership and advanced roles.
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a two-year programme, often at community colleges, leading to the same NCLEX-RN exam. Many nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN degree, often online and part-time while working.
- Accelerated BSN (ABSN): for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, usually 12 to 18 months of intensive study.
- Direct-entry master’s (MSN): offered by some universities for graduates of other fields.
Whichever route you choose, you must graduate from an approved programme and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed by the New Mexico Board of Nursing. New Mexico is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence lets you practise in other compact states.
Frequently asked questions
How many colleges in New Mexico offer a BSN?
Based on the latest College Scorecard data, 5 colleges in New Mexico produce at least 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, together awarding around 746 BSN degrees annually. Some smaller programmes are not included.
Which New Mexico nursing school has the highest graduation rate?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus has the highest college-wide graduation rate on our list, at 54%.
Which is the largest nursing programme in New Mexico?
University of New Mexico-Main Campus produces the most bachelor’s nursing graduates in the state, about 403 a year.
How much do new BSN graduates earn in New Mexico?
Across the colleges listed, the median first-year earnings of bachelor’s nursing graduates range from $75,187 to $91,241, with a typical (median) figure of about $81,073. Earnings depend on where graduates work, their shift patterns and whether they were already working as nurses.
How much does a public nursing degree cost in New Mexico?
In-state tuition at the public universities on our list ranges from $7,281 to $10,383 a year, before fees, housing and financial aid.
But is a ranking enough to choose a school?
No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:
- NCLEX pass rates: the New Mexico Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for approved programmes. Look for consistently high rates over several years.
- Accreditation: make sure the BSN is accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
- Getting into the nursing major: many universities admit students as “pre-nursing” first. Ask what share progress into the nursing programme.
- Clinical placements: where students train and how placements are arranged.
- Total cost: use each college’s net price calculator to see your likely cost after financial aid.
Your next step: Shortlist three schools from the table, then check each programme’s NCLEX pass rate on the New Mexico Board of Nursing website before you apply.
Related: US nursing schools with the highest graduation rates · How to get into nursing school
Sources: US Department of Education College Scorecard (accessed November 2026), New Mexico Board of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Figures change every year; always confirm with the college.
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