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Carrington College-Albuquerque vs New Mexico Military Institute: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Albuquerque NM · vs · Public, Roswell NM

The verdict

New Mexico Military Institute has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $9,142 in 1 years versus not at all at Carrington College-Albuquerque, on median earnings of $57,410 vs $36,718 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureCarrington College-AlbuquerqueNew Mexico Military Institute
Net price / yr$49,030$4,571
Total net cost$196,120$9,142
Median earnings, 10 yrs$36,718$57,410
Median debt$9,500$5,500
Payback1 yrs
20-year net return-$428,960$171,858

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Carrington College-Albuquerque or New Mexico Military Institute?

New Mexico Military Institute, at $4,571 a year after aid versus $49,030 — a gap of $44,459 a year, or $186,978 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Carrington College-Albuquerque or New Mexico Military Institute graduates earn more?

New Mexico Military Institute graduates report a median $57,410 ten years after entry, $20,692 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.

Which leaves students with less debt, Carrington College-Albuquerque or New Mexico Military Institute?

New Mexico Military Institute: its completers carry a median $5,500 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Carrington College-Albuquerque, a difference of $4,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

65% of students finish at Carrington College-Albuquerque, against 44% at New Mexico Military Institute. 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.

Carrington College-Albuquerque vs New Mexico Military Institute: frequently asked questions

Is Carrington College-Albuquerque or New Mexico Military Institute a better value?
New Mexico Military Institute. It clears its $9,142 net cost in about 1 years versus no clear payback at Carrington College-Albuquerque, on median earnings of $57,410 vs $36,718 ten years out.
Which is cheaper, Carrington College-Albuquerque or New Mexico Military Institute?
New Mexico Military Institute: $4,571/yr net price after aid versus $49,030/yr at Carrington College-Albuquerque — a difference of $44,459 a year, or about $186,978 over four years.
Do Carrington College-Albuquerque or New Mexico Military Institute graduates earn more?
New Mexico Military Institute graduates earn a median $57,410 ten years after entry, versus $36,718 at Carrington College-Albuquerque — a $20,692 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.