Western New Mexico University
A good fit for families who need the lowest possible cost and students who prefer a mid-size campus. graduation rate is below 40%; freshman retention is below 65%. a public school with 2,026 students.
About This School
Western New Mexico University is a public institution located in Silver City, New Mexico with approximately 2,026 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $8,522 per year. The graduation rate is 32%, and the typical graduate earns $35,800 within 10 years of enrollment.
Western New Mexico University is a public university in Silver City, New Mexico, United States. It was founded in 1893.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at just $7,912/year net price and $12,500 in median debt, this is one of the most affordable college options you'll find, which matters. However, the 35% graduation rate and 54% freshman retention rate are serious red flags — more than half of students who start here don't finish or leave after year one — and median earnings of $35,800 a decade out suggest limited financial upside even for graduates. Worth considering only if you have a specific program reason to be here and a clear plan to be among the students who actually finish.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 29% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 37 | $49,567 | $51,790 | −$2,223 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 33 | $84,626 | $88,910 | −$4,284 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 18 | $46,184 | $55,378 | −$9,194 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 9 | $56,548 | $55,792 | +$756 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,026 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in New Mexico
New Mexico Junior College
Hobbs, NM · Public
Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe, NM · Public
New Mexico Highlands University
Las Vegas, NM · Public
Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus
Roswell, NM · Public
Eastern New Mexico University
Portales, NM · Public
Clovis Community College
Clovis, NM · Public
See How Colleges Compare
Western New Mexico University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Western New Mexico University cost?
The average net price at Western New Mexico University is about $8,522 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Western New Mexico University?
Western New Mexico University has a graduation rate of 32%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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