New Mexico Nursing Programs

Top Nursing Schools in
New Mexico — 2026

Compare the best BSN, MSN, ADN, and RN programs in New Mexico. Tuition costs, NCLEX pass rates, accreditation, and unique program highlights for prospective nursing students.

7 programs listed BSN · ADN · MSN New Mexico Board of Nursing Nurse Licensure Compact member

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Nursing Programs in New Mexico

BSN · On-Campus
University of New Mexico
BSN Program — Albuquerque

UNM's College of Nursing is New Mexico's flagship program, preparing nurses to address the state's significant health disparities including Native American, Hispanic, and rural health challenges.

$8,500/yearAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
89%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
New Mexico State University
BSN Program — Las Cruces

NMSU's nursing program serves Southern New Mexico and the US-Mexico border region, preparing nurses for a unique bilingual, bicultural patient population.

$7,800/yearAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
88%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
University of New Mexico
BSN Program — Albuquerque

Flagship medical school-based nursing with UNM Hospital clinical network

$14,000/yrAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
91%NCLEX Pass
BSN · On-Campus
New Mexico State University
BSN – Traditional — Las Cruces

Southern New Mexico BSN with border health and rural health emphasis

$12,000/yrAvg Cost
4 yearsLength
89%NCLEX Pass
ADN · On-Campus
Central New Mexico Community College
ADN Program — Albuquerque

Largest community college in New Mexico with metro Albuquerque clinical placements

$7,200 totalAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
87%NCLEX Pass
ADN · On-Campus
San Juan College
ADN Program — Farmington

Northwest New Mexico ADN with San Juan Regional Medical Center partnerships

$6,800 totalAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
86%NCLEX Pass
MSN · Hybrid
University of New Mexico
MSN – Family NP — Albuquerque

Rural and tribal health-focused MSN; FNP track designed for underserved NM communities

$16,000/yrAvg Cost
2 yearsLength
N/ANCLEX Pass

About Nursing Programs in New Mexico

New Mexico's nursing market is anchored by the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque — the state's only academic medical center and Level I trauma center — along with Presbyterian Healthcare Services. With a large rural, tribal, and medically underserved population, the state has strong and persistent demand for nurses.

Students can pursue affordable community-college and tribal-college ADN programs, BSN degrees at the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State, accelerated options, and RN-to-BSN bridges plus MSN tracks for advanced practice and leadership. Many programs emphasize culturally responsive care for the state's diverse communities.

Licensure is handled by the New Mexico Board of Nursing. New Mexico is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN license issued to a New Mexico resident is a multistate license valid across all compact states — valuable for nurses serving rural and cross-border regions of the Southwest.

Licensing authority: New Mexico Board of Nursing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. New Mexico is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. If New Mexico is your primary state of residence, your RN or LPN license is a multistate license valid across all compact states.
Complete a New Mexico Board of Nursing-approved ADN or BSN program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and apply for licensure through the board.
Yes. A large rural, tribal, and medically underserved population creates strong and persistent demand for nurses well beyond the Albuquerque metro.
Both qualify you for the NCLEX-RN. A community or tribal college ADN is an affordable entry point, while a BSN is preferred at larger systems and for advancement.
About two years for an ADN and four for a BSN, with accelerated BSN options finishing in roughly 12 to 18 months for second-degree students.
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