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

UNM's nursing associate degree comes with remarkably low debt—just $11,536, which ranks in the 95th percentile nationally—but there's an uncomfortable reality about the earnings. While graduates start at $71,767, outpacing the national median, they're trailing behind most other New Mexico nursing programs. Santa Fe Community College and New Mexico State graduates earn about $7,000 more right out of the gate, and UNM's program lands at just the 40th percentile among in-state options.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.16 is exceptional, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under two months of gross earnings. That financial flexibility is genuine, and the 13% earnings growth to $80,785 by year four shows solid progression. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, making this less reliable than data from larger programs.

For New Mexico families, this becomes a question of priorities: UNM offers minimal debt exposure at an accessible institution, but your child would likely earn more elsewhere in-state. If minimizing loans is paramount and UNM's location works logistically, the low debt makes this viable. But if maximizing earning potential matters more—and you're willing to take on slightly more debt—other New Mexico nursing programs demonstrate stronger returns.