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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 does New Mexico Highlands University offer in terms of athletics?

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.

What student groups and Associations are available at New Mexico Highlands University?

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.

Who studies at New Mexico Highlands University?

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.

How does student life look like at New Mexico Highlands University?

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.

What libraries are available to students at New Mexico Highlands University?

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.

New Mexico Highlands University Student Life for 2027

Total enrollment

2704

Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen

215

Member of Athletic Associations

NCAA

Total staff

184 full time, 52 part time

Veterans affair office

No

New Mexico Highlands University Student Body

Undergraduate vs. graduate students

Undergraduate: 1,603
Graduate: 1,101

Full-time vs. part-time students

Full-time: 1,507
Part-time: 1,197

Full-time degree-seeking students by gender

Women: 93
Men: 122

Students by race/ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino: 885
Black or African American: 66
White: 247
American Indian or Alaska Native: 115
Asian: 4
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 6
Two or more races: 42
Unknown: 43

Freshly enrolled students' age

Under 25 years
Over 25 years

New Mexico Highlands University Sports & Athletics

  • Member of NCAA

Varsity 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

Varsity Intramural Aid

Badminton

–Both–

Baseball

MenMenMen

Basketball

BothBothBoth

Cross-country running

BothBothBoth

Football

MenMenMen

Golf

–Both–

Racquetball

–Both–

Rugby

–Men–

Skiing (cross-country)

–Both–

Skiing (downhill)

–Both–

Soccer

WomenWomenWomen

Softball

WomenWomenWomen

Swimming and diving

–Both–

Table tennis

–Both–

Tennis

–Both–

Track and field

WomenWomen–

Volleyball

WomenWomenWomen

Weight lifting

–Both–

Wrestling

MenMen–

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.