Las Vegas, New Mexico Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Las Vegas, New Mexico: median public in-state tuition $4,445 (-19.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $45,937 (-15.5% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 86.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $11,399 (-14.1% vs U.S.) 1,874 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 1,874 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $4,445 (-19.4% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $45,937 (-15.5% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 86.1% (-1.9 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $9,716 (-2.5% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $11,399 (-14.1% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 26.2%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 49.8%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Las Vegas serve students across New Mexico with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 1,874 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $4,445. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Las Vegas, New Mexico and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Las Vegas vs New Mexico & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, New Mexico | $4,445 | $9,716 | $11,399 | 26.2% | 1,874 |
| New Mexico (state median) | $2,235 | $5,908 | $11,356 | 37.0% | 80,152 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Las Vegas, New Mexico vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, New Mexico | $45,937 | 86.1% | 49.8% | 11.9% | — | 62.5% | 0.25 |
| New Mexico (state median) | $41,944 | 82.1% | 66.1% | 12.5% | — | 65.0% | 0.42 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in New Mexico (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, New Mexico | $4,445 | $9,716 | $11,399 | 26.2% | 1,874 | $45,937 | 86.1% |
| Albuquerque | $2,060 | $15,620 | $9,500 | 50.9% | 34,545 | $37,184 | 81.4% |
| Las Cruces | $5,252 | $8,889 | $17,095 | 55.2% | 17,247 | $39,067 | 82.7% |
| Santa Fe | $5,920 | $12,570 | $7,999 | 34.8% | 4,161 | $34,745 | 77.1% |
| Hobbs | $9,055 | $11,726 | $16,308 | 17.0% | 2,521 | $45,389 | 83.1% |
| Roswell | $4,723 | $4,108 | $11,000 | N/A | 1,631 | N/A | N/A |
| Roswell | $4,723 | $4,108 | $11,000 | N/A | 1,631 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Las Vegas, New Mexico by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 26.2%, New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University
Top college in Las Vegas, New Mexico by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 86.1%, New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University
Top college in Las Vegas, New Mexico by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $88,137, New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University
Top college in Las Vegas, New Mexico by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $97,309, New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University
Top college in Las Vegas, New Mexico by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,952, New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University
Top college in Las Vegas, New Mexico by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $40,392, New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University
Top college in Las Vegas, New Mexico by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $45,937, New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University
Top college in Las Vegas, New Mexico by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $133,928, New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University
Most affordable college in Las Vegas, New Mexico (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $14,838, New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University
Top college in Las Vegas, New Mexico by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 49.8%, New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University
In-state tuition: Las Vegas, New Mexico vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Las Vegas, New Mexico median in-state tuition is $4,445, -19.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Las Vegas, New Mexico vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Las Vegas, New Mexico is $11,399 (-14.1% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): Las Vegas, New Mexico vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Las Vegas, New Mexico center around $45,937 (-15.5% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Las Vegas, New Mexico vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 86.1% at the median Las Vegas, New Mexico campus (-1.9 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Las Vegas, New Mexico median public in-state tuition is $4,445, about -19.4% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +20.6%.
Median graduate debt is $11,399 (-14.1% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Las Vegas, New Mexico are $45,937, about -15.5% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 86.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-1.9 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 49.8% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 11.9% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 62.5% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include New Mexico Highlands University (86.1%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Las Vegas, New Mexico is 26.2% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Las Vegas?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Las Vegas, New Mexico with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Las Vegas?
Median in-state tuition in Las Vegas is $4,445 and median net price is $9,716. For New Mexico overall, medians are $2,235 and $5,908; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Las Vegas?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Las Vegas is $45,937 vs $41,944 for New Mexico and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Las Vegas colleges?
Median completer debt in Las Vegas is $11,399 vs $11,356 for New Mexico and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Las Vegas?
Top campuses on this page include New Mexico Highlands University (graduation) and New Mexico Highlands University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Las Vegas?
Among 2 campuses in Las Vegas, New Mexico, 2 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include New Mexico Highlands University and Luna Community College.
Sources & related
- New Mexico college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON