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Top New Mexico RN to BSN Programs

The healthcare field is rapidly changing. In the last several years, the range of duties that typical RNs are expected to perform have expanded considerably, which in turn, has led to an increased need for nurses with higher levels of education. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 46 percent of healthcare employers require their new hires to have at least a bachelor's degree, with nearly 9 in 10 employers having a strong preference towards those with BSN degrees. With this in mind, nurses looking to the future are headed back to school to earn their BSN degrees so they can distinguish themselves from their peers, enhance their career prospects, earn a higher salary, and set themselves up for a graduate degree. Universities have also responded to shift toward BSN-educated nurses by making it quicker, easier, and cheaper for RNs to earn their BSN degrees. With so many institutions out there offering RN to BSN programs, finding the best one to suit your individualized needs can be hard. To help, we've compiled a list of the top RN to BSN programs in the state of New Mexico.

How to Choose a Top RN to BSN Program in New Mexico

It's a serious decision choosing which RN to BSN program you'll enroll in. While scrolling through New Mexico's top RN to BSN programs, consider the following factors:

  • Program acceptance rate
  • Student satisfaction rate
  • Cost of tuition
  • Scholarship opportunities
  • Percentage of graduates who found employment
  • Class sizes
  • Program accreditation
  • Age of the institution
  • Internship opportunities
  • Cost of living in the immediate area
  • Instructor experience

Testing and Certification

After graduating from an ADN program, students must pass the NCLEX-RN exam in order to gain their nursing license. This means that RN to BSN students aren't required to take the licensing exam once again after they've successfully completed their bachelor's degree.

List of Top RN to BSN Programs in New Mexico

1. Eastern New Mexico University

First established in 1927, Eastern New Mexico University is a public university with its main campus located in Portales. ENMU offers its students an online RN to BSN program that seeks to enhance their experiential awareness, clinical judgment, and critical thinking skills. Most students who enroll in the program will complete it in five semesters. 90% of the students enrolled in ENMU's RN to BSN program are employed full-time as RNs. ENMU reports that 100% of students find employment upon graduating, while 84% of graduates report improved career advancement opportunities.

Hospitals and healthcare centers in the area currently hiring RNs:

  • Roosevelt General Hospital
  • Plains Regional Medical Center

Tuition:

In-state students who enroll in ENMU's RN to BSN program can expect to pay roughly $16,125 in tuition plus fees, whereas out-of-state students can expect to pay around $21,120 plus additional fees.

2. New Mexico Highlands University

Originally founded in 1893, New Mexico Highlands University is a public university situated in Las Vegas, New Mexico. NMHU offers students an online RN to BSN program that has practicums that can be completed in the student's state of residency. The program is composed of 34 credit hours and can be completed in as little as a calendar year. Students who enroll can expect to tackle courses like Community Health Nursing, Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice, and Cultural Competencies and Health Care, just to name a few.

Hospitals and healthcare centers in the area currently hiring RNs:

  • Alta Vista Regional Medical Center
  • New Mexico VA Health System

Tuition:

In-state students who enroll in NMHU's RN to BSN program can expect to pay roughly $8,738 in tuition plus fees while out-of-state students can expect to pay around $14,790 plus additional fees.

3. New Mexico State University

First established 1888, New Mexico State University is a public research university with its main campus situated in Las Cruces. NMSU offers a 48 credit hour RN to BSN program that can be completed mostly online in four semesters of full-time study. Part-time study plans are also available upon request. Coursework students can expect to encounter while enrolled in the program include Informatics, Nursing Health Assessment for the RN, and Promoting Healthy Behaviors, among others. New cohorts are admitted into the program just once a year.

Hospitals and healthcare centers in the area currently hiring RNs:

  • Memorial Medical Hospital
  • MountainView Regional Medical Center
  • Rehabilitation Hospital of Southern New Mexico

Tuition:

In-state students who enroll in NMSU's RN to BSN program can expect to pay roughly $14,160 in tuition plus fees while out-of-state students can expect to pay around $17,088 plus additional fees.

4. Northern New Mexico College

Northern New Mexico College, founded in 1909, is a public college with campus locations in Española and El Rito. NNMC offers an online, 40 semester hour RN to BSN program which most students complete in two years. The program, which represents the state's only holistic RN to BSN program, focuses heavily on integrative care. Nurses who enroll in the program will be educated and trained to provide holistic, intentional, and relationship-centered nursing care that addresses both individual and collective health.

Hospitals and healthcare centers in the area currently hiring RNs:

  • Presbyterian Española Hospital
  • Los Alamos Medical Center: Emergency Room

Tuition:

New Mexico residents who enroll in NNMC's RN to BSN program can expect to pay approximately $7,356 in tuition and fees. Non-residents can expect to pay roughly $22,680.

5. University of New Mexico

Founded in 1889, the University of New Mexico - the state's flagship university - is a public research university located in Albuquerque. UNM offers a flexible, 30 credit hour RN to BSN program that students can complete entirely online. The program combines evidence-based practice with the latest technologies to deliver an online degree that's indistinguishable from traditional degrees. The only difference is nursing students have the ability to work full-time while they pursue their BSN degree. Classes students should expect to encounter during the program include Care of Vulnerable Populations, Health Policy, Economics, and Systems, and Professional Communication.

Hospitals and healthcare centers in the area currently hiring RNs:

  • Heart Hospital of New Mexico
  • Presbyterian Hospital
  • Lovelace Westside Hospital
  • Kindred Hospital Albuquerque
  • University of New Mexico Hospital

Tuition:

While New Mexico residents can expect to pay roughly $10,258 in tuition plus additional fees to attend UNM's RN to BSN program, non-residents can expect to pay around $28,950 plus fees.