Best Online Nursing Programs in Las Cruces, NM (2026)
Las Cruces, New Mexico has a population of about 112,612. The city’s median household income is $55,176 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 37.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 10 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Las Cruces, with tuition ranging from $2,616 to $25,271 per year for indexed programs. In New Mexico, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $214,810 annually (BLS, May 2024).
Closest Nursing Schools to Las Cruces
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 10 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Las Cruces. Distances are calculated from Las Cruces city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico State University-Dona Ana | Las Cruces, NM | 3.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| New Mexico State University-Main Campus | Las Cruces, NM | 3.8 mi | $8,147 - $25,271 | – |
| Western Technical College | El Paso, TX | 37.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso, TX | 41.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southwest University at El Paso | El Paso, TX | 43.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center-El Paso | El Paso, TX | 43.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| El Paso Community College | El Paso, TX | 45.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| New Mexico State University-Alamogordo | Alamogordo, NM | 64.9 mi | $2,616 - $13,482 | – |
| Western New Mexico University | Silver City, NM | 92.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College | Ruidoso, NM | 95.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all New Mexico schools on the New Mexico nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Las Cruces
Las Cruces is part of the Las Cruces, NM metro area (BLS area code 29740). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to New Mexico statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $80,520 | Las Cruces, NM | $89,268 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $61,600 | Las Cruces, NM | $68,293 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $214,810 | NM statewide | $238,149 |
| Nurse Midwife | $118,650 | NM statewide | $131,541 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $126,580 | Las Cruces, NM | $140,333 |
| Nursing Assistant | $34,460 | Las Cruces, NM | $38,204 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Las Cruces at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 112,612 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $55,176 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 37.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 90.2 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Doña Ana County | 4,697 workers, 57 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Las Cruces-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Socorro, TX – 56.8 mi away (33,277 pop)
- Alamogordo, NM – 61.6 mi away (32,782 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Las Cruces, NM?
Our directory has 10 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Las Cruces. The closest is New Mexico State University-Dona Ana in Las Cruces, NM (3.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College (95.6 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Las Cruces?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Las Cruces are: Nurse Anesthetist ($214,810), Nurse Practitioner ($126,580), Nurse Midwife ($118,650). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with New Mexico statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Socorro instead of Las Cruces?
Socorro, TX is 56.8 miles from Las Cruces and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Las Cruces an affordable place to study nursing?
Las Cruces’s median household income of $55,176 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Las Cruces while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and New Mexico public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.