Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Carrington College-Albuquerque

Carrington College-Albuquerque delivers strong graduate outcomes that justify its premium price point—but you'll pay twice the typical New Mexico debt for what ends up being middle-of-the-pack earnings in the state. Graduates earn $76,515 right out of the gate, placing them in the 82nd percentile nationally and beating the national median by over $8,000. The program clearly prepares nurses well for immediate employment.

Here's the tradeoff: at $32,969 in median debt, students borrow more than double what they would at most New Mexico nursing programs (state median: $14,519). While this debt remains manageable—just 43% of first-year earnings—it's worth noting that nearby programs like Santa Fe Community College and NMSU produce slightly higher earnings at roughly half the cost. The flat earnings trajectory from year one to year four suggests nurses hit their compensation ceiling quickly, making that initial debt load matter more.

For families without significant savings, this is a functional path to a stable nursing career, particularly given the program's track record with lower-income students. But if your child has admission offers from New Mexico's public colleges, those represent significantly better value. The debt difference could mean an extra year or two of loan payments for essentially the same career outcome.