2022 - Best Nursing Schools in New Mexico

Overview of Nursing Schools in New Mexico

About Nursing Schools in New Mexico

Nurses make a positive impact on the residents in New Mexico every day. Nursing schools in New Mexico provide students with the education they need to be an even bigger impact. The New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium is aimed to increase the number of nurses with Bachelor’s degrees in order to improve efficiency, quality and health outcomes through higher education. Schools in New Mexico are designed to meet the needs of busy registered nurses by providing flexible class scheduling and providing advisers to discuss professional goals. There are also online options available to increase flexibility.

In our New Mexico RN program guide, find rankings for both ADN and BSN Degree programs, tuition costs, NCLEX passing rates, and more. Research key New Mexico RN Program information to help you compare program metrics and to apply to best RN program for your career in nursing.

In the State of New Mexico, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate's degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.

Nurses who graduate from an RN program can obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties, go on to earn an RN to BSN or RN to MSN degree.

BSN degree holders have options to earn an Advance Practice Register Nursing (APRN) degree and become a Nurse Practitioner (NP), or earn an advanced degree for a career in any number of nursing leadership roles such Nurse Educator or Clinical Nurse Specialist.

New Mexico RN Program Comparisons: ADN vs BSN

Best Ranked RN Programs in New Mexico

To help nursing students in their search for a top RN program, the education experts at RNCareers.org publish their annual findings of the best nursing schools for both New Mexico and the country. Schools ranked on our list have proven their ability to educate highly competent nurses.

To create our rankings, we evaluated 17 ADN degree programs and 6 BSN degree programs in New Mexico. We obtained each institution’s first-time NCLEX-RN passing rates, the number of students taking the test, the program nursing accreditation and more. We then compared the results against other nursing programs in New Mexico to provide our state rankings. View our methodology. 

New Mexico State University-Carlsbad

96.50% 3-Year
Pass Rate

• 
  1500 University Drive, Carlsbad, NM - 88220
• 
  (575) 234-9200

Nurse Admin: Claudia Estrada,

Title: Director of Nursing

• NCLEX Passing Rate: (A) 96.50%
• Programs: Registered Nursing
• Award Levels: Associate

New Mexico State University Carlsbad's school is a public institution in Carlsbad, New Mexico. With its three-year average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 97% percent, New Mexico State University-Carlsbad is one of the best nursing colleges in the state and a prime destination for out-of-state students as well. NMSU Carlsbad provides

View More

University Information

• Total Faculty: 33
• In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $1,176
• Book and Supplies: $4,008
• Percent Received Aid: 84%
• Average Grant or Scholarship: $6,291
• Percent Admitted: N/A
• Percent Admitted who Enrolled: N/A
• Graduation Rate: 14%

Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus

96.00% 3-Year
Pass Rate

• 
  52 University Blvd, Roswell, NM - 88202-6000
• 
  (575) 624-7000

Nurse Admin: Kristin Kuhlmann,

Title: Director of Nursing

• NCLEX Passing Rate: (A) 96.00%
• Programs: Registered Nursing
• Award Levels: Associate

Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus nursing school is a public institution in Roswell, New Mexico. The University proudly states its high NCLEX-RN pass rates and high ranking among similar institutions in New Mexico as well as the country. At ENMU, nursing students are taught to focus on improving health outcomes

View More

University Information

• Total Faculty: 45
• In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $2,256
• Book and Supplies: $5,616
• Percent Received Aid: 78%
• Average Grant or Scholarship: $5,592
• Percent Admitted: N/A
• Percent Admitted who Enrolled: N/A
• Graduation Rate: 35%

San Juan College BSN & UNM BSN Aggregated

95.26% 3-Year
Pass Rate

• 
  4601 College Blvd, Farmington, NM - 87402-4699
• 
  (505) 326-3311

Nurse Admin: Shawna Kemper,

Title: Director - Nursing Program

• NCLEX Passing Rate: (A) 95.26%
• Programs: Registered Nursing
• Award Levels: Associate, Bachelor

SJC BSN & UNM BSN Aggregated School of Health Sciences Nursing School is a public institution in Farmington, New Mexico. The nursing program at SJC BSN & UNM BSN Aggregated is ranked in the top five in the state and in the top 30 in the entire country. Its three-year

View More

University Information

• Total Faculty: 151
• In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $1,618
• Book and Supplies: $1,680
• Percent Received Aid: 92%
• Average Grant or Scholarship: $4,495
• Percent Admitted: N/A
• Percent Admitted who Enrolled: N/A
• Graduation Rate: 23%

New Mexico Junior College BSN & UNM BSN Aggregated

93.81% 3-Year
Pass Rate

• 
  5317 Lovington Hwy, Hobbs, NM - 88240
• 
  (575) 392-4510

Nurse Admin: Misty Stine,

Title: Director of Allied Health and Nursing

• NCLEX Passing Rate: (A) 93.81%
• Programs: Registered Nursing
• Award Levels: Associate

The New Mexico Junior College is a public institution in Hobbs, New Mexico. As one of the highest-ranked institutions in the state, the mission of the NMJC Nursing Program is to promote success through learning by facilitating the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitudes required by entry-level nurses to provide

View More

University Information

• Total Faculty: 63
• In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $1,440
• Book and Supplies: $2,280
• Percent Received Aid: 87%
• Average Grant or Scholarship: $2,576
• Percent Admitted: N/A
• Percent Admitted who Enrolled: N/A
• Graduation Rate: 29%

New Mexico State University - Doña Ana Community College

92.70% 3-Year
Pass Rate

• 
  2800 N. Sonoma Ranch Blvd., Las Cruces, NM - 88011
• 
  (575) 528-7000

• NCLEX Passing Rate: (A) 92.70%
• Programs: Registered Nursing
• Award Levels: Associate, Bachelor, BSN to DNP, MSN, MSN to DNP

New Mexico State University- Doña Ana CC's nursing school is a public institution in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The college is a leading community college that provides transformative educational opportunities that meet the transfer and workforce needs of Doña Ana County. Intentional and creative use of technology, a focus on

View More

University Information

• Total Faculty: 125
• In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $1,776
• Book and Supplies: $5,664
• Percent Received Aid: 89%
• Average Grant or Scholarship: $6,405
• Percent Admitted: N/A
• Percent Admitted who Enrolled: N/A
• Graduation Rate: 14%

Become an Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in New Mexico

RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.

Become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in New Mexico

Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in New Mexico offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.

New Mexico  RN Licensing Requirements

New Mexico State Board of Nursing
6301 Indian School Road NE
Suite 710
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 841-8340

Fees:
Initial licensing fee, RN: $110
License renewal (every two years), RN: $93

Continuing Education Requirements:
All nurses: 30 contact hours every renewal period

RN Licensure by Exam

When the candidate has met the educational requirements, he/she will apply to the New Mexico Board. Final transcripts from a U.S. program are acceptable for determining exam eligibility. Candidates who apply immediate upon graduation may be granted a permit to practice if there is a facility looking to hire the candidate. Along with fingerprinting, the process should be done early. There are some forms in the application that require notarization. The permit processing can take three weeks or longer. There are multiple costs that the candidate will be responsible for. The application fee is $110, the background check $44, and the official exam $200. These payments cannot be combined as they go to separate agencies. A candidate will register for the NCLEX exam through Pearson VUE and schedule the exam when Authorization to Test (ATT) has been received. In New Mexico, the process does not end with passing the licensure exam. The New Mexico Rural Nurse Residency program was put into place in order to support novice RNs who are hired by facilities that have less than 200 beds.

RN Licensure by Endorsement

A registered nurse who gained licensure in one of the other 50 states may obtain a license in New Mexico by endorsement. Candidates must submit verification of licensure. In addition to the required background check fee, candidates must pay $110 if a temporary license is not required and $160 if it is.

RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad

International nurses are eligible for licensure if their education program was equivalent. There are four education evaluation services in the state of New Mexico. Nurses must also demonstrate English proficiency if the program was not completed in English or the exam was not passed in English.

RN Salaries in New Mexico

There is an expected 40% vacancy rate for registered nurses in the state of New Mexico by the year 2025. It is also reported that only 37% of the registered nurses in New Mexico have obtained a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Upon the completion of a BSN, nurses will find a wide array of job openings that would not have been available before. New Mexico RNs earn a mean average income of $69,110 annually. Opportunities outside of the hospital for baccalaureate nurses may include:

• Nursing home administrators
• Hospice care
• Government organizations
• School nurses
• Public health
• Physician’s offices

New Mexico Registered Nursing Salaries

Albuquerque has the highest employment rate of registered nurses as well as the highest annual wage. Farmington has the highest hourly wage but only by a slim margin.Source: BLS, Department of Education, State Board of Nursing, Nursing School Websites.