Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus vs New Mexico Highlands University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but New Mexico Highlands University comes closer — median earnings $45,937 against a $59,352 total, vs $38,550 at Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | New Mexico Highlands University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,904 | $14,838 |
| Total net cost | $19,616 | $59,352 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,550 | $45,937 |
| Median debt | $16,500 | $11,399 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$215,816 | -$107,812 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus or New Mexico Highlands University?
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus, at $4,904 a year after aid versus $14,838 — a gap of $9,934 a year, or $39,736 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus or New Mexico Highlands University graduates earn more?
New Mexico Highlands University graduates report a median $45,937 ten years after entry, $7,387 more than the $38,550 at Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus or New Mexico Highlands University?
New Mexico Highlands University: its completers carry a median $11,399 in federal loans versus $16,500 at Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus, a difference of $5,101. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
45% of students finish at Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus, against 26% at New Mexico Highlands University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.