Western New Mexico University campus
Western New Mexico University logo

Western New Mexico University

Type 4 year, Public
Campus locale Town: Remote
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Small
Dormitory capacity 382
Student to faculty ratio 12 to 1
Students retention rate 71%
On-time graduation rate 29%

Located in Silver City, New Mexico, Western New Mexico University is a public, institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

One of the notable aspects of Western New Mexico University is its open admission policy. This means that all high school graduates and individuals who hold a GED qualification are eligible to apply for admission. This inclusive approach allows a wide range of students to pursue their higher education goals, regardless of their academic background.

Western New Mexico University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

With a students-to-faculty ratio of 12-to-1, Western New Mexico University emphasizes small class sizes, fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment.

While the on-time graduation rate at Western New Mexico University is reported to be 29%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, New Mexico state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 36% whereas the national average was 49%.

The student retention rate of 71% at Western New Mexico University suggests that a significant percentage of students choose to continue their studies at the institution after their first-year.


  • Accredited by: Higher Learning Commission
  • The institution provides on-campus housing

In-State Tuition & Fees

$6,558

Cost of attendance at Western New Mexico University in 2022 for students from New Mexico.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 4 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

New Mexico's average $6,451
National average $8,573

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$13,541

Cost of attendance at Western New Mexico University in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 4 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

New Mexico's average $14,455
National average $18,862

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 96 of freshman students at Western New Mexico University received on average $8,213 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$8,213
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 91 52% $5,197 $472,902
Other Federal Grant 155 89% $3,659 $567,136
State Grant/Scholarships 72 41% $2,884 $207,659
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 79 45% $7,658 $605,020
Total Grant & Scholarships 168 96% $8,213 $1,379,815

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Western New Mexico University students who enrolled in 2015 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Western New Mexico University students is 29.3%. Female students graduated at a rate of 28.8%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 29.7%.

29.3%

  • asian 33.3% 2 students
  • African American 36.7% 11 students
  • white 27.4% 14 students
  • unknown 44.4% 4 students
  • hispanic 27.6% 42 students

Sport Conferences

  • Football Lone Star Conference
  • Basketball Lone Star Conference
  • Track and Cross Country Lone Star Conference

Athletic Associations

  • NCAA
    National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Service Offerings

Western New Mexico University provides the following additional services to its students
  • On-campus day care for students' children
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Western New Mexico University offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational
  • Adult basic remedial or high school equivalent

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Teacher certification

Veteran Services

  • Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Recognized student veteran organization
  • Credit for military training

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.