
Albuquerque, NMpublicwww.unm.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 94%–97% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
The University of New Mexico (UNM) is a sprawling public research university in Albuquerque that combines Southwestern flair with academic breadth. Known for its high acceptance rate (95%), robust financial aid, and strong regional ties, UNM offers over 220 degree programs—from meteorite-studying geology to vibrant visual arts—while grappling with commuter-campus dynamics and middling graduation rates.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
UNM is decidedly non-selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering between 79% (College Board) and 95% (Niche)—making it one of the most accessible flagship universities in the U.S. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 900–1160 on the SAT or 19–26 on the ACT, with an average GPA of 3.38 (PrepScholar). Notably, special consideration is given for extracurricular participation (both school and non-school related), per the Common Data Set (CDS)A standardized report most colleges publish each year with admissions, test-score, and financial-aid figures, making schools easier to compare.. While Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight., most admitted students submit scores, and deadlines are flexible with rolling admissions.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
UNM’s academic portfolio is wide but uneven, offering 220+ degree and certificate programs—including 90+ baccalaureate, 80+ master’s, and 49 doctoral degrees. Standouts include:
The NM Lottery Scholarship covers full tuition for eligible in-state students, making UNM a bargain for locals. However, the Princeton Review notes academic rigor varies sharply by department, with STEM fields often underfunded compared to humanities.
Life at UNM is shaped by its commuter majority—only 10% of students live on campus (Reddit), and 76% live off-campus (US News). The vibe is relaxed but fragmented, with highlights including:
Student reviews on Niche praise the ‘mixed bag’ of clubs and events, like the annual ‘Hanging of the Greens’ holiday festival. However, the Reddit subreddit warns of a ‘net negative vibe’ due to sparse campus engagement outside Greek life (which draws just 5% of students).
UNM’s outcomes reflect its open-access mission and regional focus:
Alumni often stay in New Mexico, working in education, healthcare, or government—fields where UNM’s local reputation carries weight.
UNM is aggressively affordable, especially for New Mexicans:
Critically, 100% of full-time undergrads get grant/scholarship aid (College Raptor), making UNM one of the nation’s best values for low-income students.
UNM is unapologetically New Mexican—a place where undergrads study Pueblo pottery alongside aerospace engineering, and where 90% of students are from in-state. Its open-door admissions and lavish aid make it a lifeline for First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. and working-class students, even as graduation rates lag. The campus itself—a mix of Pueblo Revival architecture and ’60s concrete—mirrors New Mexico’s blend of tradition and grit. For those seeking a low-cost, culturally rooted education (and don’t mind a commute), UNM delivers.