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Compare New Mexico Highlands University vs Western New Mexico University

Las Vegas, NM · Silver City, NM

New Mexico Highlands UniversityWestern New Mexico University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$14,838/yr$8,522/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$13,511/yr$8,381/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$11,399$23,000
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$13,947/yr$8,336/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$15,175/yr$12,493/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$16,508/yrNo data reported
Price after aid (income over $110k)$16,530/yr$13,210/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$121/mo$244/mo
Room & board (on campus)$10,116/yr$10,940/yr
Room & board (off campus)$11,284/yr$10,820/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,158/yr$900/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$4,808/yr$5,015/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$20,868/yr$21,562/yr
Tuition (in-state)$7,416/yr$7,856/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$12,336/yr$14,342/yr
Students with Pell Grants45%43%
Students taking federal loans18%22%
Getting in
SAT/ACT policyOpen admission (everyone qualified gets in)Open admission (everyone qualified gets in)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate26%32%
Freshmen who come back50%58%
Typical earnings 10 years in$45,937/yr$39,095/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$26,406–$62,983$19,266–$60,604
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)47%52%
White students graduating21%32%
Black students graduating3.9%22%
Hispanic students graduating34%35%
Asian students graduatingNo data reported50%
Typical earnings 6 years in$38,952/yr$31,166/yr
Earn more than a HS grad67%55%
Graduate on time3.9%15%
Pell students who graduate26%27%
First-gen students who finish42%26%
Low-income students who finish42%24%
Students who transfer out25%26%
Typical earnings 8 years in$40,392/yr$33,484/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsHealth Professions 29% · Education 27% · Business, Management & Marketing 18%Education 20% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 20% · Business, Management & Marketing 12%
Most popular programHealth Professions — 29% of degreesEducation — 20% of degrees
2nd most popular programEducation — 27% of degreesLiberal Arts & General Studies — 20% of degrees
3rd most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 18% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 12% of degrees
4th most popular programPsychology — 6% of degreesPrecision Production — 10% of degrees
5th most popular programLiberal Arts & General Studies — 4% of degreesHealth Professions — 5% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $88,137/yrRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $73,666/yr
Degrees in STEM4.3%4.7%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment1,4512,026
Students per professor10 : 112 : 1
Graduate students1,101902
Average professor pay$5,823/mo$8,468/mo
Full-time professors78%43%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byHigher Learning CommissionHigher Learning Commission
Median family income$24,029$21,494
SettingTown (remote)Town (remote)
LocationLas Vegas, NMSilver City, NM
RegionSouthwestSouthwest
Founded18931893
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students3%3.8%
Men38%33%
Women62%67%
White students17%27%
Black students4.6%3.7%
Hispanic or Latino students61%56%
Asian students0.3%0.4%
Two or more races2.9%2.8%
Other / not reported11%6.1%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students45%48%
Part-time students36%38%
Students age 25+41%38%
Spent on teaching per student$11,748/yr$9,617/yr
Endowment$13.2M$34.4M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing518382
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$4,914/yr$5,990/yr
Meal plan charge$4,760/yr$4,950/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by week19 meals/week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadNoNo
Undergraduate researchYesNo
ROTCNoNo
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceNoYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesYesYes
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesNoYes
On-campus day careNoYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolNoNo
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationNoYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division II with footballNCAA Division II with football
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1013
Student athletes283250
Athletic scholarships$1.9M$2.5M
Athletics budget$6.8M$6.1M
Athletics revenue$6.8M$6.1M
Recruiting spend$62,386$84,957

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.