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Affordable Alternatives to New Mexico Military Institute

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to New Mexico Military Institute that cost less. 3 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

New Mexico Military Institute

Roswell, New Mexico · Public

$4,571
Net Price
$57,410
Median Earnings (10yr)
52.6%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to New Mexico Military Institute

New Mexico Military Institute posts an average net price of $4,571 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 New Mexico Military Institute across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $4,035, achieved by College of San Mateo at $536. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 3 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above New Mexico Military Institute’s $57,410, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $53,218.

The similarity scoring treats enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector as high-weight features because those structural attributes correlate most strongly with student experience and post-graduation outcomes in the College Scorecard literature. Admission rate and graduation rate enter as secondary features, while net price drives the cost-ranking that determines which institutions appear. Net price is an IPEDS-reported figure calculated as the average cost of attendance minus institutional and federal grants for first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving Title IV aid — so it already accounts for the aid a typical admitted student would receive. That makes it a more honest cost comparison than sticker-price tuition alone.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$4,035
Max Savings
3
Better Value Options
72%
Best Match

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings

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 Top 5 1. College of San Mateo $54k 2. West Valley College $52k 3. Ohio University-Eastern Camp $53k 4. Saddleback College $51k 5. Middlesex Community College $51k Compared to New Mexico Military Institute: $57k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · 2024 (latest release) Median 10-year earnings reflect federal-aid recipients only; net price reflects sticker price minus average grants/scholarships.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
College of San Mateo
San Mateo, CA · Public
$536 -$4,035 $54,172 N/A 72%
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA · Public
$3,423 -$1,148 $51,688 N/A 67%
Ohio University-Eastern Campus
Saint Clairsville, OH · Public
$3,925 -$646 $52,581 20.3% 65%
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, CA · Public
$4,152 -$419 $50,874 N/A 65%
Middlesex Community College
Bedford, MA · Public
$2,624 -$1,947 $50,651 N/A 64%
CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NY · Public Better Value
$3,148 -$1,423 $58,013 50.3% 61%
Irvine Valley College
Irvine, CA · Public
$2,090 -$2,481 $49,156 N/A 61%
College of the Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA · Public
$3,702 -$869 $49,022 N/A 61%
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NY · Public
$3,203 -$1,368 $56,195 55.7% 59%
Skyline College
San Bruno, CA · Public
$1,738 -$2,833 $55,702 42.8% 56%
Middlesex College
Edison, NJ · Public
$2,288 -$2,283 $46,861 N/A 56%
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY · Public Better Value
$2,984 -$1,587 $63,163 58.8% 54%
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY · Public Better Value
$3,103 -$1,468 $60,752 55.2% 54%
CUNY York College
Jamaica, NY · Public
$4,456 -$115 $56,945 31.3% 53%
Northwest Vista College
San Antonio, TX · Public
$4,525 -$46 $42,490 32.0% 53%

How We Match Schools

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

Only schools with a lower average net price than New Mexico Military Institute 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 New Mexico Military Institute?
We found 15 schools similar to New Mexico Military Institute that cost less. The closest match is College of San Mateo with 72% similarity and a net price of $536.
What is the ROI of attending New Mexico Military Institute?
New Mexico Military Institute has an average net price of $4,571. Graduates earn a median of $57,410 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 12.6x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than New Mexico Military Institute for less money?
Yes — 3 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. CUNY Lehman College costs $3,148 (saving $1,423) with median earnings of $58,013.
What is the cheapest alternative to New Mexico Military Institute?
The most affordable similar school is College of San Mateo at $536, saving $4,035 compared to New Mexico Military Institute. It has a 72% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $53,218 compared to New Mexico Military Institute's $57,410. While alternatives cost less, their average earnings are also lower. 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.