by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding New Mexico Highlands University retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 50% students making it past their freshmen year, New Mexico Highlands University has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in New Mexico, the average is 62.90%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| New Mexico Highlands University | 50% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Mexico | 62.90% |
There were approximately 424 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 47% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 47% of the students had graduated and after eight years 47% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical New Mexico Highlands University graduation rate 47%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 424 | 47% |
| Six Years | 424 | 47% |
| Eight Years | 0 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 472 | 53% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 472 students or 53% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 472 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
35 transferred to another institution.
New Mexico Highlands University lost contact with the remaining 424 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.4% |
| Transferred | 35 | 7.4% |
| Dropped Out | 424 | 89.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 9% |
| Black / African-American | 9% |
| Hispanic | 30% |
| International | 22% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 33% |
| White | 28% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
A meaningful share of students at New Mexico Highlands University are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at New Mexico Highlands University represent 35.71% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the New Mexico Highlands University graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 26% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | New Mexico Highlands University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 26% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 47.82% |
237 first-time / full-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
17 transferred to another institution.
New Mexico Highlands University lost contact with the remaining 217 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.27% |
| Transferred | 17 | 7.17% |
| Dropped Out | 217 | 91.56% |
First-time / part-time students at New Mexico Highlands University represent 0.78% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the New Mexico Highlands University graduation rate was 0%, and by the eight year mark, 0% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | New Mexico Highlands University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 0% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 0% | 23.72% |
7 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
New Mexico Highlands University lost contact with the remaining 5 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 14.29% |
| Transferred | 1 | 14.29% |
| Dropped Out | 5 | 71.43% |
Returning / full-time students at New Mexico Highlands University represent 35.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the New Mexico Highlands University graduation rate was 59%, and by the eight year mark, 59% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | New Mexico Highlands University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 59% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 55.07% |
130 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
New Mexico Highlands University lost contact with the remaining 119 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.54% |
| Transferred | 9 | 6.92% |
| Dropped Out | 119 | 91.54% |
Returning / part-time students at New Mexico Highlands University represent 28.25% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the New Mexico Highlands University graduation rate was 61%, and by the eight year mark, 61% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | New Mexico Highlands University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 61% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 61% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 37.80% |
98 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
8 transferred to another institution.
New Mexico Highlands University lost contact with the remaining 83 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 7.14% |
| Transferred | 8 | 8.16% |
| Dropped Out | 83 | 84.69% |
