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New Mexico Highlands University

#1436 in US ranking Las Vegas, NM
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$24,657
Tuition & fees
$7,280
Avg. aid
$9,746
Receiving aid
92%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
26%
Median salary
$46,848
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of New Mexico Highlands University?

New Mexico Highlands University holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation or approval of an individual professional program.

For students, recognized institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and is often a consideration when another college evaluates transfer credit. Neither accreditation nor an awarded degree guarantees that credits will transfer or that a graduate will receive a professional license. Applicants to regulated fields - including teaching, nursing, counseling, and social work - should check the current approval or accreditation status of their exact program and the licensing rules in their intended state before enrolling.

What are the admission requirements at New Mexico Highlands University?

First-time undergraduate applicants generally apply to New Mexico Highlands University with a high school diploma or an accepted equivalency credential and academic records. Highlands reports an open-admission policy, but applicants still need to complete the university's enrollment steps, and individual programs can impose additional requirements.

Applicants should use the current undergraduate application instructions to determine how to send official high school or equivalency records. SAT and ACT scores do not appear central to general admission: among enrolled first-time students in the reported data, 8% submitted SAT scores and 2% submitted ACT scores. Those submission rates do not establish a score requirement. Students interested in nursing or other selective or licensure-oriented pathways should distinguish admission to Highlands from later admission to a major. International applicants should also review the university's current English-proficiency and immigration-document requirements. Application timing and document requirements can differ for first-time, transfer, graduate, and international students.

What are the application fees and waivers at New Mexico Highlands University?

Applicants should check the fee shown in New Mexico Highlands University's current application before submitting it. A fee, if assessed for their applicant category, is an application charge rather than tuition, an orientation charge, or an enrollment deposit.

Students for whom a fee would be a hardship should ask admissions about waiver eligibility and the required request process before paying; a waiver should not be assumed to apply automatically. Undergraduate, graduate, and international application processes may differ, so the charge and any waiver instructions need to be checked for the application actually being used.

What types of ROTC programs are available at New Mexico Highlands University?

Students considering ROTC should verify whether an Army, Air Force, or Navy ROTC host unit currently permits New Mexico Highlands University students to participate through a formal cross-enrollment arrangement. A military-benefits office or a nearby ROTC program does not, by itself, establish that a branch operates a unit on the Highlands campus.

Before building a course schedule around ROTC, an applicant should confirm the host institution, travel requirements, credit arrangements, eligibility rules, and how ROTC classes fit the Highlands degree plan. ROTC scholarship applications and participation requirements are branch-specific, and some paths carry a military service obligation.

What are the requirements for transfer students at New Mexico Highlands University?

New Mexico Highlands University generally accepts transfer credit from accredited institutions and admits transfer students for fall, spring, and summer entry. Transfer applicants should submit records of their previous college work and have their courses evaluated against the requirements of the intended Highlands degree.

Admission as a transfer student is not the same as acceptance of every prior course toward a major. A course might transfer as elective credit without satisfying a particular requirement, while professional programs may have prerequisites or separate admission rules. Highlands also reports accepting general CLEP credit, subject to its credit-award policies. Applicants should request an official transfer-credit evaluation and review the current catalog's rules on grades, upper-division work, and credits that must be completed at Highlands before deciding how much time remains to graduate.

What types of study abroad programs are available at New Mexico Highlands University?

Students interested in studying abroad should establish which international opportunities New Mexico Highlands University currently approves for academic credit before committing to a program. A trip organized independently, a third-party program, and a university-approved course can have different credit and financial-aid consequences.

The practical questions are whether the proposed courses will satisfy degree requirements, who will approve the credits in advance, what the total program and travel costs are, and whether existing aid can be used. Students in majors with tightly sequenced courses or required placements should discuss the timing with an academic adviser early; an overseas experience may require adjustments to their graduation plan.

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 12-17
ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

New Mexico Highlands University First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 159
Out-of-state: 52
International: 8

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 227
Transfer: 219

New Mexico Highlands University Admission Requirements

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

2%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

8%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Open admission policy

Yes

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

New Mexico Highlands University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.