Western New Mexico University

Silver City, NM 2,026 Undergrads 44.3% Grad Rate

School Website|Financial Calculator

Total Cost

$21,562

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$8,522

After Aid

Median Earnings

$54,074

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$8,522

Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$54,074

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Graduation Rate44.3%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients57.0%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time61.7%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS52.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

100.0%

SAT Avg

SAT Reading

25th: --75th: -

SAT Math

25th: --75th: -

ACT Composite

25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV

Vs Median Peer

Vs HS Grad

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

+$487k

+$21k

+$3k

Median Cost$9k/yr

+$457k

-$10k

-$28k

Full Cost$22k/yr

+$410k

-$57k

-$75k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$9k/yr

Never

-90%

Full Cost$22k/yr

Never

-96%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-70%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-64%

Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Criminal Justice and Corrections

CertCIP: 4301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $57,702

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 1503

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,492

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Precision Metal Working

CertCIP: 4805

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,702

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Associate's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations

AssocCIP: 5202

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,733

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Criminal Justice and Corrections

AssocCIP: 4301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $46,706

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Design and Applied Arts

AssocCIP: 5004

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $38,127

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1503

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $67,792

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Human Services, General

AssocCIP: 4400

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $39,422

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

AssocCIP: 2401

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$34,941

Natl Median: $44,125

Lifetime Value Added

-$126k

Mathematics

AssocCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $59,929

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Precision Metal Working

AssocCIP: 4805

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$32,569

Natl Median: $56,451

Lifetime Value Added

-$129k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

AssocCIP: 5138

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$74,001

Natl Median: $80,813

Lifetime Value Added

+$243k

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions

AssocCIP: 5123

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$42,238

Natl Median: $43,854

Lifetime Value Added

-$45k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

AssocCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $37,656

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

BachCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,194

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Botany/Plant Biology

BachCIP: 2603

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,245

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations

BachCIP: 5202

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $68,257

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business/Commerce, General

BachCIP: 5201

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $68,407

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences

BachCIP: 2604

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $66,697

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Chemistry

BachCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,120

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Criminal Justice and Corrections

BachCIP: 4301

Median Debt

$13,750

Earnings (4yr)

$46,184

Natl Median: $55,378

Lifetime Value Added

-$94k

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Marketing

BachCIP: 5214

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,303

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

BachCIP: 5115

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$48,401

Natl Median: $52,119

Lifetime Value Added

-$83k

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

BachCIP: 3099

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$50,365

Natl Median: $55,693

Lifetime Value Added

-$67k

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

BachCIP: 0301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,012

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physical Sciences, General

BachCIP: 4001

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $68,944

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$21,052

Natl Median: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

-$305k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

BachCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$25,481

Earnings (4yr)

$84,626

Natl Median: $88,910

Lifetime Value Added

+$211k

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions

BachCIP: 5123

Median Debt

$18,175

Earnings (4yr)

$56,548

Natl Median: $55,792

Lifetime Value Added

-$7k

Social Sciences, General

BachCIP: 4501

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,366

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Social Work

BachCIP: 4407

Median Debt

$29,330

Earnings (4yr)

$49,567

Natl Median: $51,790

Lifetime Value Added

-$65k

Sociology

BachCIP: 4511

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $52,657

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

BachCIP: 3105

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,562

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

BachCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$30,409

Natl Median: $47,382

Lifetime Value Added

-$219k

Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management

BachCIP: 0306

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $45,338

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Zoology/Animal Biology

BachCIP: 2607

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $44,055

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations

MastCIP: 5202

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$95,128

Natl Median: $103,485

Lifetime Value Added

+$182k

Educational Administration and Supervision

MastCIP: 1304

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $71,685

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

MastCIP: 5115

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$72,205

Natl Median: $59,571

Lifetime Value Added

-$19k

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

MastCIP: 3099

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$60,521

Natl Median: $75,122

Lifetime Value Added

-$123k

Social Work

MastCIP: 4407

Median Debt

$39,487

Earnings (4yr)

$63,313

Natl Median: $65,123

Lifetime Value Added

-$98k

Special Education and Teaching

MastCIP: 1310

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $64,397

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Student Counseling and Personnel Services

MastCIP: 1311

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $60,111

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

MastCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $59,916

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

MastCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,707

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Graduate Certificates

Educational Administration and Supervision

Gr-CertCIP: 1304

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $86,288

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

Gr-CertCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $64,756

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

Gr-CertCIP: 5115

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $60,655

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Psychology, General

Gr-CertCIP: 4201

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,083

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Social Work

Gr-CertCIP: 4407

Median Debt

$38,204

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,362

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Special Education and Teaching

Gr-CertCIP: 1310

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,147

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

Gr-CertCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,709

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.