fbpx
close

Find Your School in 5 Minutes or Less

Best Nursing Schools in New Mexico in 2024 (On-Campus & Online)

Best Nursing Schools in New Mexico in 2024 (On-Campus & Online)

Best Nursing Schools in New Mexico in 2020 (On-Campus & Online)Looking for a nursing program in Albuquerque? You’re in luck. Prospective nursing students have outstanding choices when considering the best nursing programs and their corresponding nursing schools in New Mexico state. Students that want to attend a New Mexico nursing school for the first time, or that choose to advance their nursing career by obtaining an advanced degree have the opportunity to achieve their dream of having a successful nursing career.

The best and most affordable nursing schools in New Mexico sometimes offer more than one nursing program, giving prospective nurses the opportunity to continue their nursing education, or to pursue a leadership position in nursing. The opportunities available for entry-level or advanced practice nurses will likely increase, considering one important factor that affects nursing in New Mexico.

The Expected Increase in Available Nursing Positions in New Mexico

There is an ongoing nursing shortage in the United States, with the possibility that the shortage of qualified nurses will worsen in the near future. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) indicates that as current nurses retire, there is an anticipated greater nursing shortage. The organization points to statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which reveals that through the year 2026, there is a need for approximately 203,700 new registered nurses.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that although there was a 3.7 percent increase in the number of registered nurses in 2018, that is not enough to meet the growing demand. Nurses are aging and retiring, while the baby boomer population is growing, increasing the demand on the healthcare system. The need for qualified nurses continues to increase across the various nursing credentialed positions.

Modern Healthcare refers to the nursing shortage as a ‘multifaceted problem.’ Nurse leaders are starting to see an increase in demand for specialty nurses, while other sources call for the utilization of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to help alleviate some nursing shortage issues. Another shortage is in the number of nurse instructors. Choose an advanced degree and you could potentially become a nurse educator or leader to help increase the number of nursing school or nursing program instructors. 

Whatever your nursing program preference, whether an RN to BSN program or one of the nurse anesthetist schools in New Mexico, these schools will help you achieve your goal of becoming a nurse. Please note that all stated tuition costs are based on resident tuition rates. Some schools charge the same tuition for all students, while others charge an additional tuition cost for students that reside in other areas. Check your specific tuition rate with each school by visiting the website or contacting the school.

The Top Nursing Schools in New Mexico

1. Luna Community College

Luna Community College is one of the best accredited nursing schools in New Mexico. The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN) program at Luna Community College prepares students to become nurses that have the knowledge and skills to succeed in their chosen field. Students take courses in a sequential format and must achieve a minimum score of 77 percent in each course. Students learn through traditional classroom instruction, and laboratory and clinical experiences.

Students pay the same tuition, whether they reside in-district or outside the state. Graduates of the program have a high 94 percent employment rate.

  • Tuition: $38 per credit hour
  • NCLEX first time pass rate: 95.24%
  • Accreditation: ACEN

2. Doña Ana Community College

The nursing program at Doña Ana Community College provides students with the opportunity to complete the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and become a Registered Nurse (RN) upon receiving a passing score on the NCLEX exam. Students in the program work towards obtaining an entry-level nursing position.

Work towards your nursing career goals, and become a part of the health care delivery team of the future. If you reside within the county you will receive a small tuition discount.

  • Tuition: $90 per credit hour
  • NCLEX first time pass rate: 100%
  • Accreditation: ACEN

3. Eastern New Mexico University – Roswell

The Eastern New Mexico University at Roswell Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program at the university is designed so that it typically takes three years to complete. Students complete prerequisite courses during their first year of study, and then complete nursing courses during the last two years of the program.

Students learn to deliver evidence-based nursing care and engage in interprofessional collaboration in healthcare delivery that is effective and that results in quality client outcomes. The ASN students also focus on engaging in nursing practice that is professional, client-centered, compassionate, and culturally appropriate and ethical for patients, their family members, and for diverse communities.

Students that reside in the county receive a small tuition discount.

  • Tuition: $85 per credit hour
  • NCLEX first time pass rate: 95.62%
  • Accreditation: ACEN

4. Clovis Community College

The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Degree at Clovis Community College provides students with the opportunity to learn nursing skills and to deliver nursing skills and knowledge in a variety of healthcare settings. Students participate in traditional classroom instruction, along with laboratory and clinical experiences. When students participate in clinical rotations, they work directly with patients in acute care, long-term care, pediatrics, ICU, OR, OB/GYN, and other potential healthcare settings.

  • Tuition: $44 per credit hour
  • NCLEX first time pass rate: 83.82%
  • Accreditation: ACEN

5. Central New Mexico Community College

The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AASN) degree program at the Central New Mexico Community College emphasizes a holistic approach to nursing, focusing on the wellness of the whole person. The school sits as one of the best nursing schools in New Mexico as it encourages nursing students to embrace three important concepts as they apply to nursing, including compassion, critical thinking, and clear communication.

Students complete the degree program through a combination of classroom instruction, laboratory experiences, and supervised clinical experiences.

  • Tuition: $56 per credit hour
  • NCLEX first time pass rate: 86.83%
  • Accreditation: ACEN

6. San Juan College

The traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at San Juan College provides students with a unique format. Enroll in this program and you receive your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) degree from San Juan College and a BSN degree from the University of New Mexico.  

Engage in patient-centered nursing practice, integrate principles of safety and quality improvement in nursing practice, and learn to demonstrate leadership skills that apply to healthcare delivery.

Complete your nursing application package during the open application periods either in the fall, from October through February, or in the summer, from June through September. Students need not worry about applying to both schools because the application that you complete at San Juan College/University of New Mexico Bachelor of Science program is a dual application process.

  • Tuition: $155 per credit hour
  • NCLEX first time pass rate: 94.89%
  • Accreditation: ACEN

7. New Mexico State University

New Mexico State University offers the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree for current nurses that want to achieve the highest level of nursing practice. There are two specialty tracks, with students choosing either the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or the Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track. There is a 1,000-hour clinical component to the DNP online program.

Students learn to become leaders in nursing in the changing, complex field of nursing. Meet the demands of nurses in the future when you complete this terminal degree program. The school also features an LVN program and an ADN program.

  • Tuition: $339.50 per credit hour
  • NCLEX first time pass rate: 100%
  • Accreditation: CCNE

8. University of New Mexico

The University of New Mexico offers several nursing programs, including the RN to BSN program for students that currently hold registered nurse (RN) licensure, and that want to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, as well as a Master of Science in Nursing.

The RN to BSN program is offered 100 percent online with 30 credit hours of instruction. Students will learn to provide evidence-based nursing practices in nursing care and to maximize high-quality nursing care through lifelong learning processes. Students in the program learn to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams that work towards improving the quality of healthcare and to apply critical thinking and leadership principles in nursing practice.

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at the University of New Mexico offers the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) as one of the seven concentrations available to MSN degree students. When you choose the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialization, you learn to work with patients on maintaining their overall health and wellness on a long-term basis, provide family-focused care to both children and adults, and work autonomously or in collaboration with other professionals in the healthcare industry.

  • Tuition: $341.96-607.66 per credit hour
  • NCLEX first time pass rate: 96.12%/100%
  • Accreditation: CCNE/CCN

9. Brookline College

Brookline College offers nurses that hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree the opportunity to complete the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program in an online format. The school understands that current nurses have busy work and home life schedules, and offers this program with no group projects (this alone earns it a spot on our list of the best nursing schools in New Mexico). Students complete a 90-hour required practicum in their own area, so there is no requirement to complete your practicum near the university.

Complete your MSN degree in less than a year of full-time study, or in approximately two years if you decide to complete degree requirements on a part-time basis. There are two specialization options for MSN students, including the MSN Education focus, or the MSN Health Science Administration focus on Leadership.

  • Tuition: $416.67 per credit hour
  • NCLEX first time pass rate: 100%
  • Accreditation: CCNE

10. Northern New Mexico College

Although Northern New Mexico College is known for its ASN and PN nursing programs, the college now offers an online RN to BSN program. Current registered nurses have the opportunity to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, which offers greater flexibility in programming.

Students learn to deliver holistic nursing care across all aspects of nursing practice and to deliver alternative and complementary therapies in nursing practice.

  • Tuition: $229.90 per credit hour
  • NCLEX first time pass rate: 81.25%
  • Accreditation: CCNE

11. Western New Mexico University

The Western New Mexico University offers several nursing programs, including the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The university focuses on teaching nursing as both an art and science, with the primary purpose of serving people world-wide.

The program prepares students to enter nursing as a professional member of the discipline, and as a provider and manager of care. Focus is placed on continuous learning, cultural competence, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.

  • Tuition: $262.75 per credit hour
  • NCLEX first time pass rate: 91.7%
  • Accreditation: CCNE

12. New Mexico State University

New Mexico State University offers three Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) options for students earning their first nursing degree. There are other options available for students that wish to complete a BSN who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another area. Those students will enroll in the Roadrunner and Pathways nursing program option.

The school, located along the U.S. and Mexico border, takes pride in its diverse student population and the university’s expansion of its nursing program over the last several years.

Complete some courses via videoconferencing, and complete your clinical experiences at local healthcare facilities, under the supervision of New Mexico State University School of Nursing instructors.

  • Tuition: $244.80 per credit hour
  • NCLEX first time pass rate: 79.57%
  • Accreditation: CCNE

13. New Mexico Highlands University

The New Mexico Highlands University offers the online RN to BSN program for current registered nurses (RNs) that want to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The program prepares nurses for higher-level nursing practice by teaching students how to care for patients and how to manage others, and by increasing their knowledge and skills related to community health.

The school indicates that nearly 50 percent of program graduates continue their nursing education by completing advanced degrees in nursing after graduation from this RN to BSN online program.

  • Tuition: $257 per credit hour
  • Accreditation: CCNE

Methodology

We ranked each of these nursing schools in New Mexico by assigning a unique score for tuition, NCLEX first time pass rate, and for accreditation. In the case of any tie, the school with the lower tuition cost received a higher score.

We do our best to be honest, fair, and accurate in our representation of each school. No school can pay us for a higher ranking. Any college wishing to be sponsored is listed separately and clearly labeled as SPONSORED.

Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee current tuition rates or other data as these things sometimes change. It is ultimately the responsibility of a student to know current tuition rates, along with specific fees or other potential costs of attendance.

Find Your School in 5 Minutes or Less

Nursing Articles