Head-to-head comparison
New Mexico State University-Main Campus vs Carrington College-Albuquerque: which has better ROI?
Option A Las Cruces, NM
New Mexico State University-Main Campus
- Net price / year
- $8,889
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,067
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Albuquerque, NM
Carrington College-Albuquerque
- Net price / year
- $49,030
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,718
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but New Mexico State University-Main Campus comes closer — median earnings $39,067 against a $35,556 total, vs $36,718 at Carrington College-Albuquerque. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | New Mexico State University-Main Campus | Carrington College-Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,889 | $49,030 |
| Total net cost | $35,556 | $196,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,067 | $36,718 |
| Median debt | $17,095 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$221,416 | -$428,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, New Mexico State University-Main Campus or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus, at $8,889 a year after aid versus $49,030 — a gap of $40,141 a year, or $160,564 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do New Mexico State University-Main Campus or Carrington College-Albuquerque graduates earn more?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus graduates report a median $39,067 ten years after entry, $2,349 more than the $36,718 at Carrington College-Albuquerque. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, New Mexico State University-Main Campus or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
Carrington College-Albuquerque: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $17,095 at New Mexico State University-Main Campus, a difference of $7,595. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at Carrington College-Albuquerque, against 55% at New Mexico State University-Main Campus. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.