UNM vs. USW

Comparable Facts

Compare University of New Mexico Main Campus in Albuquerque, NM with University of the Southwest in Hobbs, NM on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of New Mexico Main Campus is larger than USW based on total student enrollment (23,124 students vs. 1,130 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of New Mexico Main Campus is located in Albuquerque, NM (Large City setting); University of the Southwest is in Hobbs, NM (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of New Mexico Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of the Southwest is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of New Mexico Main Campus 15:1; University of the Southwest 21:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the Southwest are 32.6% lower than at University of New Mexico Main Campus ($8,100 vs. $12,026).
• Out-of-state tuition is 98.3% higher at UNM than at University of the Southwest (about $16,390 more per year; $33,060 vs. $16,670).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of New Mexico Main Campus than at University of the Southwest (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of New Mexico Main Campus students is 25.9% larger than aid received by University of the Southwest students ($13,140 vs. $10,436).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at UNM, open admission at USW.
• Enrolled first-year students at UNM average a 3.42 high school GPA, 0.79 higher than at USW (2.63).

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of New Mexico Main Campus graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than USW graduates ($19,500 vs. $23,500).
• Among borrowers, UNM graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USW graduates ($201 vs. $242).
• More UNM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USW students, three years after graduation (47% vs. 47%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.