Public Graduate Good 57/100

New Mexico Highlands University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Las Vegas, New Mexico

About New Mexico Highlands University

New Mexico Highlands University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Las Vegas, New Mexico. It enrolls 1,451 students (a small, tight-knit 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.

Acceptance
Graduation
41%
Net Price
$14,838
Median Earnings (10yr)
$45,937
Enrollment
1,451
Student : Faculty
10:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

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
57/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 28
Value 47
Affordability 50
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for New Mexico Highlands University.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending New Mexico Highlands 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 $14,838 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$14,838
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
45%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
18%
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)
$7,416
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$12,336
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,116
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,284
Books & Supplies
$1,158
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,808
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,808
Total Cost of Attendance
$20,868

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
    $13,511
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $13,947
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $15,175
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $16,508
  • Over $110,000
    $16,530

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.

$2,669
10% percentile
$4,500
25% percentile
$11,399
Median percentile
$18,500
75% percentile
$25,000
90% 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 $9,500 ↓ $1,899
No Pell $9,335 ↓ $2,064
Dependent students $7,500 ↓ $3,899
Independent students $10,500 ↓ $899
Female students $9,750 ↓ $1,649
Male students $9,335 ↓ $2,064
Pell recipients: 17.0% (1,937 students)No Pell: 16.7% (1,903 students)Dependent students: 13.4% (1,529 students)Independent students: 18.8% (2,140 students)Female students: 17.4% (1,987 students)Male students: 16.7% (1,903 students)Overall Median$11,399
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($11,399), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

41% of full-time students who enrolled at New Mexico Highlands University graduate within six years, and 53% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
41%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
53%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered New Mexico Highlands University earn a median of $45,937 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,937
Earning > $25K
72%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$38,000$40,000$42,000$45,000$47,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$36,800

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$39,300

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$34,400

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$40,000

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$46,600

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

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 19.0 pts across 6 years
53.2%1yr62.5%3yr68.5%5yr72.3%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 72% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

New Mexico Highlands University is home to 1,451 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 45% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
1,451
Part-Time
36%
First-Generation
45%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 61.0% 885
White 17.0% 247
Other 11.2% 163
Black 4.6% 66
International 3.0% 43
Asian 0.3% 4
Hispanic: 61.0% (885 students)White: 17.0% (247 students)Other: 11.2% (163 students)Black: 4.6% (66 students)International: 3.0% (43 students)Asian: 0.3% (4 students)Total1,451

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at New Mexico Highlands University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Town: Remote Las Vegas, New Mexico
Housing
Partly residential 518 beds available
Adult Learners
41% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

New Mexico Highlands University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 50 distinct programs across 20 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.

4 Programs
3 Programs
3 Programs
1 Program
2 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at New Mexico Highlands University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$17,729
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$10M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,430
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

137 instructional faculty across 5 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 29 21% $76,201
Associate Professors 30 22% $80,306
Assistant Professors 38 28% $51,117
Instructors 39 28% $70,646
No Rank 1 1% $58,246

Pros & Cons of New Mexico Highlands University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how New Mexico Highlands University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
  • Low typical debt at graduation
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Below-average completion rate
  • First-year retention is below typical
Best for: Based on the data, New Mexico Highlands University is a fit for students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about New Mexico Highlands University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about New Mexico Highlands University.

How much does New Mexico Highlands University cost?
The average net price after aid at New Mexico Highlands University is $14,838 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is New Mexico Highlands University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,937 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,838 per year. That's roughly 3.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is New Mexico Highlands University known for?
New Mexico Highlands University is best known for its programs in Mental Health Services, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do New Mexico Highlands University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering New Mexico Highlands University are $45,937, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is New Mexico Highlands University accredited?
Yes. New Mexico Highlands University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend New Mexico Highlands University?
New Mexico Highlands University enrolls 1,451 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at New Mexico Highlands University?
New Mexico Highlands University graduates 41% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is New Mexico Highlands University a public or private college?
New Mexico Highlands University is a Public institution.
Where is New Mexico Highlands University located?
New Mexico Highlands University is located in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
What programs does New Mexico Highlands University offer?
New Mexico Highlands University offers 50 distinct programs. The most popular include Mental Health Services, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at New Mexico Highlands University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at New Mexico Highlands University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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