
New Mexico Highlands University's varsity teams, the Cowboys and Cowgirls, compete in NCAA Division II and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. This varsity affiliation is distinct from club sports and informal recreation.
Highlands fields teams in sports including football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, soccer, and track and field or cross-country. Students interested in competing should check the current team roster, recruiting process, and NCAA eligibility requirements for their sport. A listing of recreational activities or student clubs does not mean each activity is a varsity team; students who want to participate without varsity commitments should look separately at current club and campus recreation options.
Student organizations at New Mexico Highlands University offer ways to meet peers around cultural interests, service, academics, and recreation. Reported examples include MeChA, NMHU Student Ambassadors, NMHU Cheerleaders, Vatos Rugby, and the Fire Escape Club.
Organization activity and recognition can change from year to year. A student who hopes to join a particular group should check the current student-organization directory or activities office for meeting information and recognition status. Student ambassadors, for example, have a different role from an independently run cultural club, while a rugby club should not be confused with a varsity athletics program.
New Mexico Highlands University enrolled approximately 2,704 students in the reported institutional figures. Its student body includes first-time undergraduates, transfer students, graduate students, and adults returning to study.
The reported entering undergraduate groups included 227 first-time degree- or certificate-seeking students and 219 transfer-in students. Students age 25 and older made up a majority of the age counts, so an applicant should not assume that campus life revolves only around recent high school graduates. About 70% of students were New Mexico residents, while 23% came from other U.S. states. The university also enrolled students from abroad. Reported racial and ethnic counts include substantial Hispanic or Latino and American Indian or Alaska Native enrollment; such categories describe enrollment, not the experiences or views of individual students.
Everyday life at New Mexico Highlands University combines a residential main campus with a large commuter population. About 20% of students live on campus in the reported figures, while about 80% commute. Class schedules, work, and travel may therefore shape how and when students connect with campus activities.
Students can encounter peers through classes, campus events, recreation, and shared study spaces rather than relying solely on residence-hall life. Reported support resources include a health clinic and personal or psychological counseling. For a prospective commuter or adult learner, useful questions are whether desired courses and activities are offered at workable times and which support services can be accessed remotely or at a location away from the main campus.
The Thomas C. Donnelly Library is New Mexico Highlands University's main campus library. It provides a place to study and a starting point for finding course readings, scholarly sources, and research help.
Students working on papers or projects should make use of librarian assistance and the library's catalog and electronic research resources, including materials accessible away from the building where permitted. For specialized material that the library does not hold, ask about borrowing or document-delivery options. Current opening hours, study-space rules, and remote-access instructions are worth checking each term, particularly for students taking evening or online classes.
Total enrollment
2704Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen
215Member of Athletic Associations
NCAATotal staff
184 full time, 52 part timeVeterans affair office
NoVarsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).
Sport
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Cross-country running
Football
Golf
Racquetball
Rugby
Skiing (cross-country)
Skiing (downhill)
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and diving
Table tennis
Tennis
Track and field
Volleyball
Weight lifting
Wrestling
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.