Central New Mexico Community College vs Carrington College-Albuquerque: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Central New Mexico Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,869 against a $18,484 total, vs $36,718 at Carrington College-Albuquerque. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central New Mexico Community College | Carrington College-Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,621 | $49,030 |
| Total net cost | $18,484 | $196,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,869 | $36,718 |
| Median debt | $6,612 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$248,304 | -$428,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Central New Mexico Community College or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
Central New Mexico Community College, at $4,621 a year after aid versus $49,030 — a gap of $44,409 a year, or $177,636 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Central New Mexico Community College or Carrington College-Albuquerque graduates earn more?
Central New Mexico Community College graduates report a median $36,869 ten years after entry, $151 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, Central New Mexico Community College or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
Central New Mexico Community College: its completers carry a median $6,612 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Carrington College-Albuquerque, a difference of $2,888. 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 31% at Central New Mexico Community College. 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.