2026 Best Value Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools in New Mexico

[Medical/Clinical Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/medical-clinical-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for medical/clinical assistant students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools in New Mexico
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the medical/clinical assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools
Central New Mexico Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools in New Mexico. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $10,112. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $34,751 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Set in the town of Roswell, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,256, with out-of-state students paying around $5,616. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $11,110 in student loans. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus earn a median of $21,129 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,110 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes New Mexico State University Dona Ana one of the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Set in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,322, compared with $6,360 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,284 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of New Mexico State University Dona Ana earn a median of $39,399 early in their careers. Set against $10,284 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Fe Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Located in the rural area of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,851, while out-of-state students pay about $4,131. Students borrow a median of $15,267 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $51,935. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque earned it the #5 place for medical/clinical assistant. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque is a small private for-profit university. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $18,266 in student loans. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque earn a median of $39,701 early in their careers. Set against $18,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brookline College Albuquerque ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Brookline College Albuquerque is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $9,500. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Brookline College Albuquerque earn a median of $27,966 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carrington College Albuquerque placed #7 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Carrington College Albuquerque is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $9,174 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $29,556. That is a strong return on a $9,174 median debt.
More Medical/Clinical Assistant Rankings
View All Medical/Clinical Assistant Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.