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Western New Mexico University
Silver City, New Mexico · Public university · Training programs available:
Address: 1000 W. College Ave, Silver City, NM 88061 · Phone: (505) 538-6336 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Western New Mexico University is a public trade and career school in Silver City, NM offering welding schools, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Median graduate debt is $23,000 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $39,095, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; completion rate for this campus is not reported.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Western New Mexico University; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including Pell Grants used by 43.5% of students, is available.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $36,860 | $59,840 | $82,550 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in New Mexico (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 26 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | $32,569 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Western New Mexico University is a public university located in Silver City, New Mexico, a remote-town setting. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with additional programmatic accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here. Among its trade-focused offerings, welding schools is the top program family, with 38 completers recorded in federal data.
Federal data shows some but not all outcome figures for this campus. The state average completion rate for comparable programs is 42.9%, though this campus's own completion rate and its comparison to the state average are not reported for this campus in federal data. Median debt for graduates is $23,000, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $39,095. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Of enrolled students, 43.5% receive Pell Grants, suggesting a substantial share of the roughly 2,026 undergraduate population qualifies for need-based aid.
This campus may suit students interested in a focused welding program within a larger public university setting, though specific program length is not reported for this campus in federal data, making it difficult to assess fit for adult career-changers without contacting the school directly. Prospective students should verify accreditation status directly with the Higher Learning Commission and review current outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Western New Mexico University's primary trade offering in federal data is welding schools, with 38 completers recorded. The school offers a total of 3 program categories tracked in federal trade program data.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited, primarily by the Higher Learning Commission. It also holds programmatic accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants. Currently, 43.5% of students receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
This campus's completion rate is not reported in federal data. The state average completion rate for comparable programs is 42.9%, but a direct comparison for this campus is not reported.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt for graduates of this school is $23,000, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $39,095, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (505) 538-6336 or visit wnmu.edu for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public institution, which typically means lower in-state tuition and eligibility for state-level funding, though specific tuition figures are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly to confirm program duration and schedule options.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation status with the Higher Learning Commission and review detailed outcome data through the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?188304.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
Program length and schedule flexibility are not reported for this campus in federal data, so fit for adult career-changers cannot be assessed from available information. Contact the school directly to discuss options for working adults.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements after program completion are not reported in this data. Contact the school at (505) 538-6336 for details specific to the welding program.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Western New Mexico University at (505) 538-6336 or through its website at https://www.wnmu.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data against other nearby welding programs is not reported for this campus in federal data. Use the College Scorecard link to compare outcomes across schools directly.
Nearby trade and career schools in New Mexico
- New Mexico State University-Dona AnaLas Cruces, NM · 19% completion
- Olympian Academy of CosmetologyLas Cruces, NM · career school
- Glitz School of CosmetologyLas Cruces, NM · 69% completion
- Capstone Construction SchoolLas Cruces, NM
- Dona Ana Community College Truck Driving AcademyLas Cruces, NM
- Doña Ana Community College Truck Driving AcademySunland Park, NM
- Gabriel SanchezDeming, NM
- Central New Mexico Community CollegeAlbuquerque, NM · 31% completion
See all trade and career schools in New Mexico or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.