Accredited nursing programs in New Mexico
18 schools in New Mexico have at least one nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE: 6 BSN, 13 ADN, 1 LPN, 2 MSN programs. 1 holds both accreditors across their programs. For the bachelor’s degree, 5 of 6 listings are CCNE and 1 are ACEN.
- Bachelor's programs
- 6
- 1 ACEN, 5 CCNE
- Associate programs
- 13
- 13 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Practical programs
- 1
- 1 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Master's programs
- 2
- 1 ACEN, 1 CCNE
Accredited schools in New Mexico
| School | City | Type | BSN | ADN | LPN | MSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrington College-Albuquerque | Albuquerque | For-profit | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Central New Mexico Community College | Albuquerque | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Clovis Community College | Clovis | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | Portales | Public | ACEN | – | – | ACEN |
| Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus | Roswell | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Luna Community College | Las Vegas | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| New Mexico Highlands University | Las Vegas | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| New Mexico Junior College | Hobbs | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| New Mexico State University-Main Campus | Las Cruces | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Northern New Mexico College | Espanola | Public | CCNE | ACEN | – | – |
| San Juan College | Farmington | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Santa Fe Community College | Santa Fe | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Southeast New Mexico College | Carlsbad | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus | Gallup | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus | Albuquerque | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| University of New Mexico-Taos Campus | Ranchos de Taos | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| University of New Mexico-Valencia County Campus | Los Lunas | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Western New Mexico University | Silver City | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
Programs listed as accredited in the ACEN directory (opens in a new tab) and the CCNE directory (opens in a new tab), collected November 2026 and matched to schools by name and city. Programs in candidacy are not counted. A dash means no accredited program at that level was matched.
What accreditation means in New Mexico
Two separate approvals apply to a nursing program. The New Mexico board of nursing approves programs so their graduates can sit the NCLEX. Programmatic accreditation from ACEN or CCNE is voluntary and is judged by a national peer body.
Associate programs are the most common accredited level here, with 13. For bachelor’s degrees, 6 of 7 schools reporting graduates to the federal government matched an accredited program (86%).
Common questions
How many nursing schools in New Mexico are accredited?
We matched 18 New Mexico schools to at least one accredited nursing program in the ACEN and CCNE directories: 6 BSN, 13 ADN, 1 LPN, 2 MSN. Schools with several programs appear once.
What is the difference between ACEN and CCNE?
ACEN accredits nursing programs at every level, from practical nursing to doctorates. CCNE accredits bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Both are recognized by the US Department of Education.
Do I need an accredited program to become a nurse in New Mexico?
Not always. The state board of nursing approves programs for licensure, and that is a separate approval from ACEN or CCNE accreditation. Accreditation still matters for transferring credits, federal and employer tuition benefits, and entry to graduate programs.
Are all New Mexico bachelor’s programs accredited?
6 of the 7 New Mexico schools that report nursing bachelor’s graduates to the federal government matched an accredited listing. A school that does not match may be new, may be listed under another name, or may lack accreditation, so check the accreditor’s own directory before you apply.