Carrington College-Albuquerque — ROI, Cost & Payback
Carrington College-Albuquerque charges a net price of $49,030/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $196,120. Median earnings ten years after entry are $36,718, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Carrington College-Albuquerque does not clear its cost — it ranks #28 of 32 New Mexico colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $49,030/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $196,120 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $36,718 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$11,642/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $9,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$428,960 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Carrington College-Albuquerque's own numbers. Net price $49,030 × 4 years = $196,120 total. Median earnings $36,718 fall $11,642 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $196,120 bill in about 19.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Carrington College-Albuquerque students graduate with?
A median $9,500 in federal loans among completers, or 26% of the $36,718 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Carrington College-Albuquerque students graduate?
65% finish their degree — 35% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $196,120 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $301,723 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Carrington College-Albuquerque expensive compared with other New Mexico colleges?
Its $49,030 net price runs $41,708 above the $7,323 median across the 32 New Mexico colleges we profile, or $166,830 more across the full degree.