Best colleges for Practical Nursing in New Mexico
Ranked by graduate earnings
Central New Mexico Community College, Clovis Community College and Brookline College - Albuquerque award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in New Mexico: 138, 83 and 83 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 17 New Mexico colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 621 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top 3 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque Public · Certificate | $30,137 | 138 | 31% | — | $11,500 |
| 2 | Brookline College - Albuquerque Albuquerque Private for-profit · Certificate | $29,376 | 83 | 47% | $41,032 | $9,500 |
| 3 | Pima Medical Institute - Albuquerque Albuquerque Private for-profit · Certificate Small program | $52,838 | 18 | 68% | $19,789 | $13,638 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in New Mexico
Top 9 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque Public | 138 | $30,137 |
| 2 | Clovis Community College Clovis Public | 83 | Not reported |
| 3 | Brookline College - Albuquerque Albuquerque Private for-profit | 83 | $29,376 |
| 4 | San Juan College Farmington Public | 54 | Not reported |
| 5 | Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus Roswell Public | 25 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of New Mexico-Taos Campus Ranchos de Taos Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 7 | Pima Medical Institute - Albuquerque Albuquerque Private for-profit | 18 | $52,838 |
| 8 | Carrington College - Albuquerque Albuquerque Private for-profit | 18 | Not reported |
| 9 | New Mexico Junior College Hobbs Public | 8 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 New Mexico colleges offering Practical Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico State University - Dona Ana | Las Cruces | Public | 38 |
| Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College | Ruidoso | Public | 36 |
| Santa Fe Community College | Santa Fe | Public | 31 |
| University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus | Los Lunas | Public | 28 |
| University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus | Gallup | Public | 21 |
| New Mexico State University - Grants | Grants | Public | 16 |
| Northern New Mexico College | Espanola | Public | 3 |
| Southeast New Mexico College | Carlsbad | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in New Mexico
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in New Mexico.
Which New Mexico colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Central New Mexico Community College (138 graduates a year), Clovis Community College (83 graduates a year) and Brookline College - Albuquerque (83 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in New Mexico, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 17 New Mexico colleges offer Practical Nursing.
Which Practical Nursing program in New Mexico has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Central New Mexico Community College tops the list at $30,137. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in New Mexico?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in New Mexico is $41,400 (median $39,390), across about 4,750 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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