Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at New Mexico State University-Main Campus

New Mexico State's nursing program shows an unusual earnings pattern that deserves scrutiny: graduates earn $73,229 in their first year but see that drop to $68,637 by year four—a 6% decline rather than the growth you'd typically expect. This positions the program below both the state median ($80,598) and national average ($74,888), landing around the 40th percentile among New Mexico nursing programs. With stronger options like New Mexico Highlands ($88,137) and Eastern New Mexico ($83,465) available in-state, this program falls toward the middle-to-lower end of the state's nursing landscape.

The positive news is manageable debt: $20,500 is well below the national nursing median of $27,000, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.28. That's reasonable and shouldn't create financial stress for most graduates. The program serves a significant population of Pell-eligible students (40%), which speaks to its accessibility. However, the earnings trajectory raises questions—are graduates starting in higher-paying positions but then moving into roles with lower compensation? Are they leaving the state for less expensive areas?

For families committed to staying in New Mexico, consider why this program consistently trails its in-state peers by $7,000-15,000 annually. The affordable debt makes it workable, but the combination of below-average earnings and downward trajectory suggests you'd get better value at UNM or Eastern New Mexico unless location in Las Cruces is essential.