Western New Mexico University
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Why Western New Mexico University Matters
Western New Mexico University is a public university in Silver City, NM and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,026
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Precision Production
Why students choose Western New Mexico University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $8,522 a year after grants and scholarships — 50% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $39,095 ten years after enrolling — 4% below the typical college, against $23,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 10% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.62 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Western New Mexico University is a solid choice for students drawn to practical fields like Education, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Precision Production, and Criminal Justice. With an enrollment of about 2,026, it caters to those looking for a more personalized experience in a public university setting. The focus here leans toward hands-on learning and community involvement, appealing to students who value engagement and real-world applications of their studies.
When it comes to life after graduation, the numbers tell a promising story. Graduates earn an average of $39,095 a decade after finishing their degrees. This figure suggests that students often find ways to translate their education into stable careers. With an affordable net price of $8,522, many students manage to graduate without an overwhelming financial burden, which is crucial for those considering their return on investment from higher education.
Looking at the practical side, students graduate with a median debt of $23,000, which is manageable for many, especially given the earning potential. The university attracts a diverse range of students, including a notable 43% who receive Pell Grants, indicating strong support for those from lower-income backgrounds. Such an environment can foster a sense of community and resilience, making it an ideal place for those who are motivated to make the most of their educational journey.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Western New Mexico University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Western New Mexico University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Western New Mexico University, located in Silver City, New Mexico, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 34%.
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 Western New Mexico University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Western New Mexico University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $14,342 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $8,522 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,381 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $23,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Western New Mexico University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Western New Mexico University report median earnings of $39,095; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Western Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Western New Mexico University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Western New Mexico University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,522/year ($34,088 total). Graduates earn $39,095 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,046,200 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,012,112 (30.7× your investment). The median debt is $23,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 34% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Western New Mexico University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Western New Mexico University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 3.09%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 23.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $51,200, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Western New Mexico University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Western New Mexico University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Western New Mexico University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Western New Mexico University, located in Silver City, New Mexico, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 34%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Western New Mexico University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Western New Mexico University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $14,342 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $8,522 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,381 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $23,000.
Is Western New Mexico University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Western New Mexico University report median earnings of $39,095; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Does Western New Mexico University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Western New Mexico University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 3.09%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 23.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $51,200, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Western New Mexico University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs below average at Western New Mexico University, with an economic connectedness score of 0.62 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.13). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Western New Mexico University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Western New Mexico University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs below average at Western New Mexico University, with an economic connectedness score of 0.62 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.13). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note