Head-to-head comparison
University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus vs Carrington College-Albuquerque: which has better ROI?
Option A Los Lunas, NM
University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus
- Net price / year
- $5,714
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,792
- 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 University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus comes closer — median earnings $44,792 against a $11,428 total, vs $36,718 at Carrington College-Albuquerque. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus | Carrington College-Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,714 | $49,030 |
| Total net cost | $11,428 | $196,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,792 | $36,718 |
| Median debt | $18,450 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$82,788 | -$428,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus, at $5,714 a year after aid versus $49,030 — a gap of $43,316 a year, or $184,692 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 University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus or Carrington College-Albuquerque graduates earn more?
University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus graduates report a median $44,792 ten years after entry, $8,074 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, University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
Carrington College-Albuquerque: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $18,450 at University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus, a difference of $8,950. 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 21% at University of New Mexico-Valencia County 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.