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Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College

#3 Most Affordable Colleges in New Mexico
Public Ruidoso, NM · Town · Southwest · 87% data
A+ Value A+ Affordability A Diversity
Graduation Rate
22% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$38,550 C-
Below average for college graduates
Net Price
$2,042 A+
88% less than the typical college
Enrollment
377
Earnings -5% vs avg
Graduation -62% vs avg
Net Price +-88% vs avg

Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 110.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $110.9 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Most Affordable Colleges in New Mexico.

110.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $110.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $897,793.

What The Data Says

  1. A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduation of 22% — 62% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $110.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College

Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
377
Setting
Town
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Humanities, Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing

Why students choose Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College

Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B-
Top 33% overall
C-
Earnings
$38,550 median
A+
Value
18.9× net price
A+
Affordability
$2,042/yr net
F
Graduation
22% graduate
A
Diversity
0.76 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

If you’re looking for a close-knit community where you can pursue hands-on learning, Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College might be a good fit. With an enrollment of just 377 students, it’s a place where you can form meaningful connections with peers and faculty. Here, students often dive into programs like Humanities, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Construction Trades, and Education, giving you a variety of paths to explore based on your interests.

After graduation, the average earnings for alumni sit at $38,550 a year. That’s a solid starting point for many, especially when you consider the affordable education costs here. The net price after aid is only $2,042, making it accessible for a wide range of students. While the graduation rate is 22%, it’s important to note that many students find their footing in the workforce, with a focus on practical skills that have real-world applications.

When it comes to finances, the median debt of $16,500 is manageable, especially given the relatively low cost of attendance. Students who thrive here tend to be those who appreciate a smaller environment and are motivated to take advantage of the programs offered. With a Pell Grant rate of 14%, there's some support for those who need it, but overall, the emphasis is on providing an education that leads to stable employment opportunities.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Ruidoso, New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.

Retention Rate
33%
Full-Time Faculty
19%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,877
Student–Faculty Ratio
12:1
Diversity Index
0.76
First-Gen Students
46%

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College is $3,268, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $2,042. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $736 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,500 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$1,372
Out-of-State
$3,268
Avg Net Price
$2,042
Median Debt
$16,500
Pell Grant Rate
14%
Federal Loan Rate
1%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$736
Family Income $30K–$48K
$2,495
Family Income $48K–$75K
$5,724

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College report median earnings of $38,550, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$33,619
8 Years
$36,430
10 Years
$38,550
Debt-to-Earnings
0.43x
Earning > $25K
46%

Earnings Trajectory

$33,619 6yr $36,430 8yr $38,550 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (5)
10%
100% (5)
10%
100% (5)
10%
100% (5)
10%

How Eastern Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation22%Earnings 10yr$39KNet Price$2KRetention33%Median Debt$17KPell Grant Rate14%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$1K$0-30K$2K$30-48K$6K$48-75K

College ROI Calculator

Is Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $2,042/year ($8,168 total). Graduates earn $38,550 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $905,961 in total earnings — a net gain of $897,793 (110.9× your investment). The median debt is $16,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 22% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$8,168
Projected 20yr Earnings
$905,961
Net Return
$897,793
ROI Multiple
110.9×
Cost Per Year
$2,042
Median Debt
$16,500
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
22%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$749,236
Total Expenses
$8,169,601
Federal Grants
$2,924,893

Top Programs

The fields Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Ruidoso, New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College is $3,268, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $2,042. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $736 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,500 in federal student loans.

Is Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College report median earnings of $38,550, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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