Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Las Cruces, NM · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

A 76% acceptance rate means New Mexico State University-Main Campus is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 11,561 in Las Cruces, NM.

Program Analysis

At $78,510 per year, Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates from New Mexico State University-Main Campus earn slightly above the $69,474 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 50.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 39% task exposure — and the 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates.

The median debt load of $13,590 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #638 out of 947 programs, New Mexico State University-Main Campus's financial outcomes for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $78,510 to $80,465 over five years (2% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration connects to 4 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.

79 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
74
Low End
79
Score
79
High End
Earnings $78,510/yr (13% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$821K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
50.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$16,294
Out-of-state: $50,542
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,590
2.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$80,465
2% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Nurse anesthetists $223,210 +8.6% 83%
Nurse practitioners $129,210 +40.1% 52%
Nurse midwives $128,790 +11.1% 61%
Nurse anesthetists
$223,210
+8.6% growth 83% AI-proof
Nurse practitioners
$129,210
+40.1% growth 52% AI-proof
Nurse midwives
$128,790
+11.1% growth 61% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

About Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Careers

Your career begins on the front lines as a Registered Nurse. You’ll work in fast-paced hospitals or clinics, monitoring patient vitals on EKG machines, administering medications, and updating electronic health records. After gaining experience, your path can branch. You might pursue advanced clinical practice to become a Nurse Practitioner, where you’ll diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, and manage your own patient caseload. Alternatively, you could move into leadership as a Health Services Manager, where your day involves managing staff schedules, overseeing budgets, and ensuring your department runs smoothly.

Read the full Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration career guide →

Compare & Explore

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Overview

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at New Mexico State University-Main Campus

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 79/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at New Mexico State University-Main Campus?
A score of 79/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but New Mexico State University-Main Campus trails the majority of Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration to AI automation?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $821,388 in decade earnings vs $821,388 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What's the typical debt for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates from New Mexico State University-Main Campus?
At $13,590 in median debt, Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates from New Mexico State University-Main Campus carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates?
Yes — 4 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration career paths, including Home Health Director. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
How many job openings are there for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates?
The career paths mapped to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration have roughly 292,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →