New Mexico Junior College vs Carrington College-Albuquerque: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but New Mexico Junior College comes closer — median earnings $34,233 against a $13,048 total, vs $36,718 at Carrington College-Albuquerque. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | New Mexico Junior College | Carrington College-Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,524 | $49,030 |
| Total net cost | $13,048 | $196,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,233 | $36,718 |
| Median debt | $11,313 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$295,588 | -$428,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, New Mexico Junior College or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
New Mexico Junior College, at $6,524 a year after aid versus $49,030 — a gap of $42,506 a year, or $183,072 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do New Mexico Junior College or Carrington College-Albuquerque graduates earn more?
Carrington College-Albuquerque graduates report a median $36,718 ten years after entry, $2,485 more than the $34,233 at New Mexico Junior College. 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, New Mexico Junior College or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
Carrington College-Albuquerque: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $11,313 at New Mexico Junior College, a difference of $1,813. 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 58% at New Mexico Junior 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.