Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus

Portales, New Mexico · Public

$4,904
Net Price
$38,550
Median Earnings (10yr)
91.7%
Acceptance Rate
42.3%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus

Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus posts an average net price of $4,904 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $5,886, achieved by Ventura College at -$982. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus’s $38,550, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $47,125.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$5,886
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
55%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. California State University- $59k 2. Carroll Community College $44k 3. Indiana University-Kokomo $50k 4. Ventura College $43k 5. Victoria College $42k Compared to Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus:$39k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

A negative College Scorecard net price means the institution reported average grant and scholarship aid above its cost-of-attendance estimate for the covered first-time, full-time aid recipients. It is a cohort average, not a promise that every student is paid to attend.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public Better Value
$3,967 -$937 $59,211 52.8% 55%
Carroll Community College
Westminster, MD · Public Better Value
$2,725 -$2,179 $44,349 43.4% 49%
Indiana University-Kokomo
Kokomo, IN · Public Better Value
$3,968 -$936 $49,917 45.2% 48%
Ventura College
Ventura, CA · Public Better Value
-$982 -$5,886 $43,430 40.5% 48%
Victoria College
Victoria, TX · Public Better Value
$3,043 -$1,861 $42,382 26.7% 48%
Brazosport College
Lake Jackson, TX · Public Better Value
$4,732 -$172 $45,910 46.8% 47%
St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL · Public Better Value
$1,471 -$3,433 $42,557 37.9% 47%
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, CA · Public Better Value
$3,864 -$1,040 $43,937 44.3% 46%
Texas A & M International University
Laredo, TX · Public Better Value
$3,637 -$1,267 $48,386 47.6% 45%
Golden West College
Huntington Beach, CA · Public Better Value
$4,824 -$80 $43,145 46.8% 45%
CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NY · Public Better Value
$3,148 -$1,756 $58,013 50.3% 42%
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL · Public Better Value
$2,829 -$2,075 $43,892 36.6% 42%
Cypress College
Cypress, CA · Public Better Value
$4,606 -$298 $43,533 36.3% 42%
Skyline College
San Bruno, CA · Public Better Value
$1,738 -$3,166 $55,702 42.8% 41%
Western Texas College
Snyder, TX · Public Better Value
$3,562 -$1,342 $42,508 56.3% 41%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus?
We found 15 schools similar to Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus that cost less. The closest match is California State University-Los Angeles with 55% similarity and a net price of $3,967.
What is the ROI of attending Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus?
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus has an average net price of $4,904. Former students earn a median of $38,550 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 7.9x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus for less money?
Yes - 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. California State University-Los Angeles costs $3,967 (saving $937) with median earnings of $59,211.
What is the cheapest alternative to Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus?
The most affordable similar school is Ventura College at -$982, saving $5,886 compared to Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus. It has a 48% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $47,125 compared to Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus's $38,550. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.