New Mexico State University-Alamogordo vs Carrington College-Albuquerque: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but New Mexico State University-Alamogordo comes closer — median earnings $39,067 against a $14,738 total, vs $36,718 at Carrington College-Albuquerque. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | New Mexico State University-Alamogordo | Carrington College-Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,369 | $49,030 |
| Total net cost | $14,738 | $196,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,067 | $36,718 |
| Median debt | $17,095 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$200,598 | -$428,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, New Mexico State University-Alamogordo or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
New Mexico State University-Alamogordo, at $7,369 a year after aid versus $49,030 — a gap of $41,661 a year, or $181,382 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 State University-Alamogordo or Carrington College-Albuquerque graduates earn more?
New Mexico State University-Alamogordo graduates report a median $39,067 ten years after entry, $2,349 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, New Mexico State University-Alamogordo or Carrington College-Albuquerque?
Carrington College-Albuquerque: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $17,095 at New Mexico State University-Alamogordo, a difference of $7,595. 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 14% at New Mexico State University-Alamogordo. 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.