Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College vs Carrington College-Albuquerque: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,550 against a $8,168 total, vs $36,718 at Carrington College-Albuquerque. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College | Carrington College-Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,042 | $49,030 |
| Total net cost | $8,168 | $196,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,550 | $36,718 |
| Median debt | $16,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$204,368 | -$428,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College, at $2,042 a year after aid versus $49,030 — a gap of $46,988 a year, or $187,952 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College or Carrington College-Albuquerque graduates earn more?
Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College graduates report a median $38,550 ten years after entry, $1,832 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, Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
Carrington College-Albuquerque: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $16,500 at Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College, a difference of $7,000. 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 29% at Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch 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.