New Mexico ABSN options span about 16 to 19 months, and published program-cost figures range from about $28,000 to $57,006 (some schools list resident-only totals or annual cost ranges). These programs target students who want a second degree nursing program and want to accelerate nursing school through an intensive, full-time plan.
Quick Summary Table
| School | Location | Cost & Duration | GPA Required |
|---|---|---|---|
Albuquerque | $57K / 16 months | 2.75 GPA | |
Albuquerque | ~$38K / 16 months | 3.0+ unweighted GPA | |
Las Cruces | $28K / 19 months | 3.0 GPA | |
Albuquerque | $36K / ~16 months | 2.75 GPA |
2026 New Mexico ABSN Program Rankings
1. New Mexico State University ABSN Program
Las Cruces | $28,000 | 19 Months
New Mexico State University offers two second-degree BSN options for students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree: the 19-month accelerated Roadrunner Option and the more traditional Pathways Option. Both programs follow a five-semester curriculum built on the New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium model and include classroom instruction, simulation labs, and clinical training. Students complete 124–125 credits and are prepared for RN licensure, with recent NCLEX-RN pass rates reaching 98.6%... read more.
2. University of New Mexico ABSN Program
Albuquerque | $36,000 | 16 Months
The University of New Mexico’s Accelerated 2nd Degree BSN (ABSN) program allows students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to earn a BSN in 16 months through a full-time, campus-based curriculum. The program includes 59–65 credits of classroom, lab, and clinical training, with a focus on evidence-based care, health promotion, leadership, and policy. Graduates are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and enter the nursing workforce in diverse care settings... read more.
3. Grand Canyon University ABSN Program
Albuquerque | $53,550 | 16 Months
New Mexico residents have access to Grand Canyon University's 16-month hybrid ABSN at its Albuquerque learning site, an accelerated route into nursing close to home. Nursing theory runs online, while skills labs, simulation, and clinical rotations are completed in person at local Albuquerque-area facilities.
Why Grand Canyon University Stands Out
- Hybrid delivery with three cohort starts a year and clinical placements coordinated locally in Albuquerque.
- Ranked #13 nationally for nursing (2026); GCU reports strong first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates across its sites.
- Two entry pathways: 60+ non-nursing transfer credits (or a completed bachelor's), or prerequisites through GCU online first.
- A Christian worldview is woven through every course, not confined to one class.
- $53,550 estimated tuition for the 63-credit accelerated portion; HLC-accredited institution (programs designed to meet AACN Essentials).
4. Brookline College ABSN Program
Albuquerque | $57,000 | 16 Months
Brookline College’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program in Albuquerque allows students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to earn a BSN in just 16 months. The program blends online coursework with hands-on lab instruction and clinical rotations in real healthcare settings. With a curriculum rooted in Watson’s Caring Science, students develop clinical skills across diverse areas such as adult care, pediatrics, mental health, community health, and leadership... read more.
Scoring Notes
Calculated comparative scores across cost, duration, licensing, and admissions flexibility
Cost scaling — Range: $27,222 (NMSU resident) to $57,006 (Brookline). GCU tuition estimated at ~$52,400 ($26,200/yr × 2 academic years).
| School | Cost (0–40) | Duration (0–20) | NCLEX (0–20) | Clinical Partners (0–10) | Admissions Flex (0–10) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NMSU | 40 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 55 |
UNM | 29 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 54 |
Grand Canyon University | 6 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 36 |
Brookline College | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Cost — NMSU resident ($27,222) earns full 40 pts. UNM resident ($35,148) scores 29. GCU (~$52,400 tuition) scores 6. Brookline ($57,006) scores 0 as the highest-cost program.
Duration — All four programs are 16 months or longer (NMSU is 19 months), so every school scores 0. This is a notable difference from Nebraska and NJ, where 12-month programs existed.
NCLEX — GCU cites 95.57% first-time pass rate (2024) and UNM cites over 92%, both earning 20 pts. NMSU and Brookline cite no rate.
Clinical Partners — No program names specific hospital systems by name. All four earn 5 pts for implied clinical placements.
Admissions Flex — NMSU offers three application deadlines across summer, fall, and spring entry options (10 pts). GCU has multiple locations and year-round sequential structure, suggesting some flexibility (5 pts). UNM and Brookline show no clear multiple start dates (0 pts).
Comparing ABSN Programs in New Mexico
Lets take a look at the factors that influence the best choice for you.
TLDR summary for quick selection
Choose New Mexico State University if you want the lowest published tuition and you can commit to a 19-month plan with summer entry options.
Choose University of New Mexico if you want a 16-month, full-time, on-campus ABSN with a published resident total cost and strong reported outcomes.
Choose Grand Canyon University if you want a hybrid ABSN model with online coursework plus in-person labs, simulations, and local clinicals.
Choose Brookline College if you want an Albuquerque-based ABSN that advertises “no wait-list” and structured academic support while you accelerate nursing training.
Program Length and Format
Shortest ABSN options: Brookline College, Grand Canyon University, and University of New Mexico each describe an ABSN path that can be completed in about 16 months.
Most Affordable ABSN in New Mexico
New Mexico State University: NMSU lists a program tuition figure of about $28,000 for the 19-month plan, and it also publishes a detailed resident total that is close to that range. This can make NMSU the most budget-friendly published option for students who qualify for resident pricing.
University of New Mexico: UNM lists a published resident total cost of about $35,148.72 for its 16-month accelerated 2nd-degree BSN. This can be a strong value for students who want a public, on-campus program and want to accelerate nursing training without adding housing-style cost bundles.
Prerequisite Course Patterns
Across these New Mexico ABSN paths, schools commonly require core sciences and support courses before the nursing sequence begins. A typical pattern includes Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Statistics, and some schools also list Nutrition and Pathophysiology as required or strongly recommended.
Another common theme is a recency window for science prerequisites and a focus on performance in prerequisites. Several schools emphasize transfer-credit review and a structured plan to confirm eligibility early, which matters if you are entering as a second degree nursing program student.
Start Dates and Cohort Availability
Schools with spring or summer starts: New Mexico State University explicitly lists a summer start for the Roadrunner option and a spring start for the Pathways option (with location limits).
Rolling vs fixed admissions cycles: New Mexico State University lists fixed deadlines tied to specific start terms.
Grand Canyon University uses a year-round structure.
Clinical Training Structure
New Mexico ABSN clinical models vary by school.
Grand Canyon University describes clinical experiences integrated throughout the program with supervised rotations near the learning site, plus skills labs and immersive simulations.
University of New Mexico describes clinical experiences in hospitals and outpatient settings supported by simulation and skills labs.
For clinical placement support, Brookline College emphasizes advising, tutoring, mentorship, and student services that support progression during clinical training.
New Mexico State University highlights compliance steps (background checks, drug screening, immunizations, CPR) tied to clinical readiness and fees charged across terms.