University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Albuquerque, New Mexico · Public · 95.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 38/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of New Mexico scores 38 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale. UNM enrolls 17,244 students in Albuquerque with $10,140 in-state tuition and a $15,489 net price. The institutional-level weaknesses are real: average 6-year earnings of $32,600, a 20.6-year payback period, a 54.7% completion rate, and a repayment rate of only 67.9%. The 38.7% Pell rate reflects a student body with significant financial need. However, UNM's aggregate score conceals extreme program-level variation. CS graduates earn $89,498 year-one (51 graduates, B+ grade). Nursing produces 412 graduates earning $82,216 year-one (B+ grade). Mechanical Engineering earns $61,611 year-one (83 graduates, B+ grade). Chemical Engineering earns $62,907 year-one (B+ grade). Business Administration graduates 441 students earning $45,215 year-one (B grade, $17,916 median debt). Against this, Fine and Studio Arts (46 graduates, F grade, debt-to-earnings 1.170) and Drama (F grade, 1.331) anchor the bottom. UNM's Below Benchmark score is driven by low-earnings programs pulling down institutional averages, combined with a completion rate that leaves roughly half of entering students without a degree. For students in the right programs, UNM delivers strong ROI at a low in-state cost. For students in arts, humanities, and social sciences, the picture is far weaker.
How University of New Mexico-Main Campus 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 Score38/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period20.6 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,140/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $33,060/yr |
| Average net price | $15,489/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $61,956 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $44,792 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,450 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $196 |
| Estimated payback period | 20.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 17,244 |
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: $10,140/year ($33,060/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 $15,489/year, or roughly $61,956 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 $11,938/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,053/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,450, which works out to about $196 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($32,600) and comes to 0.57, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $11,938 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,045 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,196 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,906 |
| $110,001+ | $19,053 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $11,938 per year - roughly $47,750 over four years. For STEM and healthcare students who complete degrees, this is a genuinely strong investment at the institutional cost level. For students in arts, humanities, and social sciences, the 20.6-year payback and 54.7% completion rate mean the risk of non-completion with debt is high. Low-income students should have clear program and career plans before enrolling.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $16,196 (48001-75000 bracket) to $17,906 (75001-110000 bracket) per year. Four-year costs of $65,000-$72,000 are very low for a flagship university. Program selection drives the ROI case entirely. Engineering, CS, and nursing students have strong returns at this cost. Liberal arts and social science students face a longer payback horizon.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $19,053 per year - about $76,000 over four years. At this cost, even programs with modest earnings outcomes can produce acceptable payback periods.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of New Mexico-Main Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $62,431 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $86,559 | B+ |
| Psychology | $46,693 | C |
| Biology | $51,987 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $47,770 | D |
| Teacher Education | $50,231 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,311 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $94,990 | B+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $49,309 | C+ |
| International Relations | $52,569 | C+ |
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.
Computer and Information Sciences
CS (51 graduates) earns $89,498 year-one and $112,064 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.256, median debt $22,919). Year-one earnings are $89k at an in-state net price of $15,489 per year. Low debt-to-earnings of 0.256 reflects the earnings power relative to modest borrowing. The B+ reflects high earnings but also cohort size (51) and some debt.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (412 graduates, a very large cohort) earns $82,216 year-one and $86,559 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.307, median debt $25,271). Year-one earnings of $82k are excellent for the New Mexico and Southwest healthcare market. Large cohort size (412) gives this data statistical weight. Debt-to-earnings of 0.307 is efficient. Nursing at UNM serves the state's healthcare workforce need and delivers strong individual returns.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (83 graduates) earns $61,611 year-one and $94,990 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.276, median debt $17,014). Low median debt of $17,014 reflects efficient borrowing for a four-year engineering program. Year-one of $62k and four-year of $95k show solid engineering career progression. Sandia National Laboratories, Intel's Albuquerque facility, and the defense sector create regional demand for mechanical engineers.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (441 graduates, the largest reported cohort) earns $45,215 year-one and $62,431 at year four (B grade, debt-to-earnings 0.396, median debt $17,916). Four-year trajectory to $62k is reasonable. At $15,489 net price, business graduates earn a workable return despite modest entry-level salaries.
Fine and Studio Arts
Fine and Studio Arts (46 graduates) earns $19,227 year-one and $35,527 at year four (F grade, debt-to-earnings 1.170, median debt $22,500). Year-one earnings of $19k cannot service $22,500 in loans. The F grade accurately captures this mismatch. Even at low in-state cost, studio arts graduates at UNM face severe early-career financial constraints. Students pursuing fine arts should plan for supplemental income streams in early career.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 61.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 67.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 55.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 64.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of New Mexico-Main Campus’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
| Acceptance rate | 95.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 430-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 460-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-26 |
| Enrollment | 17,244 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,446 |
At 95.2%, UNM is open access. SAT and ACT ranges are modest, consistent with the mission to serve New Mexico's diverse population. For students in selective programs (Engineering, CS, Nursing), internal program admission requirements may be more constraining than university-level admission. Students should investigate program-specific GPA and prerequisite requirements for competitive majors.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus (this school) | 38 | $15,489 | $44,792 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | 46 | $15,327 | $52,093 |
| Western Kentucky University | 34 | $10,990 | $43,889 |
| Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | 34 | $4,904 | $38,550 |
| Georgia Gwinnett College | 34 | $15,844 | $47,730 |
| Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development | 18 | $12,570 | $24,505 |
Who Thrives Here
UNM admits 95.2% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 430-570 Math and 460-600 Reading (ACT 19-26). The school is effectively open-access for New Mexico residents. Enrollment of 17,244 means the campus offers scale and diversity of programs not available at smaller regional institutions. The 38.7% Pell rate and 54.7% completion rate indicate that a large share of students face financial constraints and do not complete degrees. Students who enroll in STEM, healthcare, or business programs and persist to graduation can access strong career outcomes at low in-state cost.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, University of New Mexico-Main Campus scores 38/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $15,489 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $44,792 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 20.6 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 to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a three-year loan repayment rate of 67.9% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $18,450 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $32,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57, 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.
University of New Mexico-Main Campus: Common Questions
Is University of New Mexico-Main Campus worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. University of New Mexico-Main Campus scores 38/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $15,489 a year after aid against $44,792 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 20.6 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does University of New Mexico-Main Campus 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 $15,489 a year, or roughly $61,956 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 University of New Mexico-Main Campus graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $44,792 ten years after enrolling, roughly $2,992 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 University of New Mexico-Main Campus?
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 20.6 years for University of New Mexico-Main Campus. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of New Mexico-Main Campus graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,450, against average earnings of $32,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57. 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 University of New Mexico-Main Campus?
The six-year graduation rate is 54.7%. 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.