UNM vs. UW

Should I go to University of New Mexico Main Campus or University of Wyoming? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UNM or UW is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of New Mexico Main Campus vs. University of Wyoming comparison
University of New Mexico Main Campus University of Wyoming College 3 College 4
University of New Mexico Main Campus University of Wyoming
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Overview

UNM UW
Location Albuquerque, NM Laramie, WY
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 21,953 11,100
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #658 #331
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website unm.edu uwyo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UNM UW
Tuition (In State) $6,803 $4,800
Tuition (Out of State) $25,138 $19,950
Room & Board $10,916 $11,610
Avg Net Price $10,633 $12,819
Avg Grant Aid $9,280 $8,942
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 94%

Admission

UNM UW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,639 5,797
Admitted 12,142 5,564
Acceptance Rate 96.1% 96%
Enrolled % 28.9% 29.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/25 21/28
SAT Range 1030/1250 1040/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 10, 2025

Academics

UNM UW
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

UNM UW
Graduation Rate 44% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,700 $51,400
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $18,500
Median Loan Payment $201 $191

Diversity

UNM UW
% Men 42% 46%
% Women 58% 54%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 35% 76%
% Black 2% 1%
% Hispanic 47% 7%
% Native American 6% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 7%

Students

UNM UW
% In-State 80% 56%
% Out-of-State 18% 40%

Campus

UNM UW
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of New Mexico Main Campus is larger than than UW based on total student enrollment (21,953 students vs. 11,100 students)

UNM vs. UW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNM or UW?

  • University of New Mexico Main Campus is 41.7% more expensive to attend than UW for in-state tuition ($6,803.00 vs. $4,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 26% higher at UNM than University of Wyoming ($25,138.00 vs. $19,950.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of New Mexico Main Campus than UW ($10,633 vs. $12,819)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of New Mexico Main Campus are 6.4% lower than costs at University of Wyoming ($10,916 vs. $11,610)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of New Mexico Main Campus than University of Wyoming (97% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of New Mexico Main Campus students is 3.8% larger than aid received University of Wyoming ($9,280 vs. $8,942)

UNM vs. UW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNM or UW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UW or UNM .

  • The average SAT score at University of Wyoming (1122) is 82 points higher than at UNM (1040)
  • Incoming UW students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at UNM (22)
  • Accepted freshman UW students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at UNM (3.42)
  • UNM has a higher acceptance rate (96.1%) than UW (96%)

UNM vs. UW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UNM or UW? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UW and UNM.

  • The graduation rate at UW is higher than University of New Mexico Main Campus (53% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from University of Wyoming earn on average $8,700 more per year than UNM graduates after ten years. ($51,400 vs. $42,700)
  • University of Wyoming students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than UNM graduates. ($18,500 vs. $19,500)
  • UW graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than UNM graduates. ($191 vs. $201)
  • More UW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNM students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/