Western New Mexico University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Silver City, New Mexico. It enrolls 2,026 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes37
Value71
Affordability65
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Western New Mexico University.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Western New Mexico University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $8,522 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$8,522
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
43%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
22%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$7,856
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$14,342
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,940
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,820
Books & Supplies
$900
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,015
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,015
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,562
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,381
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,336
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,493
Over $110,000
$13,210
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$4,75025%percentile
$23,000Medianpercentile
$23,10475%percentile
$36,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,250
↓ $9,750
No Pell $9,500
↓ $13,500
Dependent students $10,800
↓ $12,200
Independent students $15,250
↓ $7,750
Female students $13,050
↓ $9,950
Male students $11,000
↓ $12,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($23,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
27% of full-time students who enrolled at Western New Mexico University graduate within six years, and 56% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
27%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
56%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Western New Mexico University earn a median of $39,095 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$39,095
Earning > $25K
64%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$31,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$42,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$38,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,900, about 26% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 68% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Western New Mexico University is home to 2,026 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 48% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,026
Part-Time
38%
First-Generation
48%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 56.0%1,135
White 27.2%550
Other 8.0%163
International 3.8%76
Black 3.7%75
Asian 0.4%9
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Western New Mexico University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteSilver City, New Mexico
Housing
Partly residential382 beds available
Adult Learners
38%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Western New Mexico University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
60 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Western New Mexico University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,307
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$32M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$73,572
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
103 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
28
27%
$83,064
Associate Professors
26
25%
$73,688
Assistant Professors
46
45%
$68,468
Instructors
3
3%
$60,546
Pros & Cons of Western New Mexico University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Western New Mexico University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Western New Mexico University is a fit for
families focused on keeping net cost low.
Frequently Asked Questions about Western New Mexico University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Western New Mexico University.
How much does Western New Mexico University cost?
The average net price after aid at Western New Mexico University is $8,522 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Western New Mexico University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $39,095 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,522 per year. That's roughly 4.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Western New Mexico University known for?
Western New Mexico University is best known for its programs in Social Work, Liberal Arts, Social Work. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Western New Mexico University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Western New Mexico University are $39,095, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Western New Mexico University accredited?
Yes. Western New Mexico University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Western New Mexico University?
Western New Mexico University enrolls 2,026 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Western New Mexico University?
Western New Mexico University graduates 27% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Western New Mexico University a public or private college?
Western New Mexico University is a Public institution.
Where is Western New Mexico University located?
Western New Mexico University is located in Silver City, New Mexico.
What programs does Western New Mexico University offer?
Western New Mexico University offers 60 distinct programs. The most popular include Social Work, Liberal Arts, Social Work.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Western New Mexico University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Western New Mexico University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in New Mexico
Other colleges in New Mexico share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Rankings That Feature Western New Mexico University
Western New Mexico University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
Highest-Earning Precision Production Colleges
The highest-earning colleges for Precision Production, ranked by graduate salary 10 years after entry.
$76,571 Top Earn
$51,087 Avg Earn
71 UCD Score
17 Colleges
Most Affordable Precision Production Colleges
The most affordable colleges for Precision Production, ranked by net price with earnings and outcomes shown.
$8,522 Lowest Net
$21,108 Avg Net
71 UCD Score
$76,571 Top Earn
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