New Mexico Highlands University
Las Vegas, New Mexico · Public
ROI Score: 39/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
New Mexico Highlands University earns the Below Benchmark tier with an ROI score of 39 out of 100, but the program-level data tells a more nuanced story than the institutional metric suggests. The Las Vegas, New Mexico public Hispanic-Serving Institution posts in-state tuition of $7,416 (out-of-state $12,336), with a $14,838 net price putting four-year cost-of-attendance at $59,352. Average 6-year earnings of $29,600 climb to a median $45,937 by year 10. Median debt is just $11,399 producing a strong 0.385 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 89, the highest single sub-score on this profile), reflecting that NMHU students borrow modestly despite low post-graduation earnings. The dominant problem is a 26.2% completion rate: nearly three out of four entrants don't finish. The 62.5% three-year repayment rate is mediocre. Where NMHU genuinely delivers is in completion-driven program tracks: A-grade nursing, B-grade teacher education, business administration, and even psychology (a surprising B from the modest debt). Highlands plays a critical role serving the rural northern New Mexico Hispanic and Native American communities, and for completers the value is real.
How New Mexico Highlands University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score39/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate26.2% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period18.2 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
New Mexico Highlands University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,416/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $12,336/yr |
| Average net price | $14,838/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $59,352 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,937 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $29,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $11,399 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $121 |
| Estimated payback period | 18.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 26.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,451 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $7,416/year ($12,336/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $14,838/year, or roughly $59,352 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $13,511/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $16,530/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $11,399, which works out to about $121 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($29,600) and comes to 0.39, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,511 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,947 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,175 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,508 |
| $110,001+ | $16,530 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30K pay $13,511 net annually, with $30,001-48,000 households paying slightly more at $13,947. Four-year cost of $54K-$56K is workable for nursing and teacher education completers. Pell-eligible students from northern New Mexico get genuine value here if they complete; the modest debt profile (median $11,399) is a real cushion against non-completion risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $15,175 to $16,508 net annually, putting four-year costs at $61K-$66K. The math holds for the strong-program tracks. New Mexico's Opportunity Scholarship can substantially reduce these net prices for state residents, materially improving the value picture.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110K pay $16,530 net annually (essentially flat to the $75-110K bracket), or $66K over four years. At that price the institution remains affordable in absolute terms but the case requires either community ties or a specific strong-program target like nursing.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at New Mexico Highlands University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $53,566 | B |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $52,517 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $57,821 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $97,309 | A |
| Psychology | $43,926 | B |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $62,375 | - |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $26,461 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $45,868 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is NMHU's standout program with 41 graduates per year. First-year median earnings of $88,137 climb to $97,309 by year four, against just $21,392 median debt for an exceptional 0.243 debt-to-earnings ratio and A ROI grade. Northern New Mexico and broader Southwest nursing labor markets are tight, and federal Indian Health Service placements provide additional career pathways. This is a genuinely high-value nursing program at very affordable cost.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education is NMHU's largest program at 82 graduates per year. First-year earnings of $41,352 climb to $53,566 by year four, with $18,375 median debt producing a 0.444 debt-to-earnings ratio and B ROI grade. The combination of low debt and reasonable progression is strong for teacher education, particularly for graduates who enter higher-paying NM school districts or use PSLF for federal loan forgiveness.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration has 55 graduates per year. First-year earnings of $39,271 climb to $57,821 by year four, with $16,760 median debt for a 0.427 debt-to-earnings ratio and B ROI grade. The low debt picture combined with reasonable career progression makes this a solid choice for cost-conscious in-state business-bound students.
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Mental and Social Health Services has 63 graduates per year. First-year earnings of $34,750 climb to $52,517 by year four, with $18,375 median debt for a 0.529 debt-to-earnings ratio and C+ ROI grade. NMHU has a strong social work pipeline, and the modest debt level combined with PSLF eligibility for nonprofit and government employment makes this a defensible track despite modest market salaries.
Psychology
Psychology has 31 graduates per year and produces an unusual outcome: a B ROI grade despite modest first-year earnings of $27,483. The reason is the very low $9,894 median debt, producing a 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio. Year-four earnings of $43,926 show solid progression. This is a financially defensible bachelor's psychology program, specifically because of NMHU's affordable cost structure.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 62.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 48.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 56.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How New Mexico Highlands University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 1,451 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 45.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,823 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data. SAT and ACT scores are also not reported. The 26.2% completion rate is severely low and reflects an institution serving a heavily first-generation, working-class, and rural-isolated student population including substantial Hispanic and Native American enrollment.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico Highlands University (this school) | 39 | $14,838 | $45,937 |
| Northern State University | 41 | $15,812 | $47,618 |
| University of Maine at Presque Isle | 39 | $7,035 | $40,956 |
| Western Colorado University | 38 | $16,425 | $46,833 |
| Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | 34 | $4,904 | $38,550 |
| Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development | 18 | $12,570 | $24,505 |
Who Thrives Here
NMHU fits in-state northern New Mexico students from rural, Hispanic, and Native American communities seeking very affordable bachelor's education close to home, with 1,451 enrolled and a 45.1% Pell rate. The institution's HSI mission and tribal partnerships are real differentiators. Best fit for committed nursing, teacher education, or social services students with clear program direction; high risk for unprepared or undecided students given the 26.2% completion rate. The school's rural location is a feature for community-rooted students, a barrier for others.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, New Mexico Highlands University scores 39/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $14,838 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $45,937 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 18.2 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What it has going for it: manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 26.2% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 62.5% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $11,399 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $29,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
New Mexico Highlands University: Common Questions
Is New Mexico Highlands University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. New Mexico Highlands University scores 39/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $14,838 a year after aid against $45,937 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 18.2 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does New Mexico Highlands University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $14,838 a year, or roughly $59,352 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do New Mexico Highlands University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $45,937 ten years after enrolling, roughly $4,137 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off New Mexico Highlands University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 18.2 years for New Mexico Highlands University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do New Mexico Highlands University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $11,399, against average earnings of $29,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at New Mexico Highlands University?
The six-year graduation rate is 26.2%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.