Fall 2016 enrollment is at 3,427, down 79 students from six years ago, when the university ended the fall 2010 term with 3,506 students.

Compared to other similar sized universities across the state, WNMU is doing better than some but not as good as others.

New Mexico Highlands University has seen its enrollment decline by 160 students in three years, dropping from 3,768 in 2012 to 3,608 students in 2015. Enrollment numbers for 2016 were not available by press time Monday.

Eastern New Mexico University, however, has gained 202 students over the past four years, going from 5,812 students in 2012 to 6,014 in 2016.

With the state cutting 5 percent from funding for universities during the recent special legislative session — on top of a 2 percent cut made at the beginning of the year during the regular legislative session — a healthy, steady enrollment is one way to keep universities in a good financial place.

WNMU President Joseph Shepard, who took the helm at the university in 2011, said that over the last five years, enrollment has fluctuated, but remains at around 3,500.

Going back to 2010, WNMU had an enrollment of 3,506 students. Enrollment dropped by 146 — or just over 4 percent, in 2011 to 3,360. But the following year, in 2012, the university gained 188 students and enrollment jumped to 3,548 — a 5.5 percent increase. In 2013, the university gained just a dozen students and enrollment rose to 3,560, but it fell by 50 students the following year to 3,510. Enrollment fell again in 2015, to 3,414, with the university losing 96 students. For the beginning of the 2016 school year, enrollment is up slightly to 3,427, but Shepard said that may not be the final number since some students are expected to drop out by the end of the year.

"My prediction — and I could be wrong about this —  is that it's going to continue to do what it has been doing," he said. "Up by 30, down by 30 or whatever that magical number is."
Shepard said while enrollment has been fairly flat, changes in the community, like layoffs at the mines, can affect enrollment.

"In 2013, for example, Tyrone laid off a bunch of the miners," Shepard said. "We're going to pick up some of those individuals and you're going to have a spike [in enrollment]. When people lose their jobs, they tend to go back to school."

When unemployment falls, enrollment also falls, Shepard said.

To increase enrollment, WNMU is marketing itself to southern Arizona, the rest of the state, and West Texas.

Eastern New Mexico University President Steven Gamble said he attributes his university's increase in students to classic word of mouth and increased online enrollment.

"They might live in Texas, they might live in Seoul, South Korea, and they might live in Silver City," Gamble said. "We are not growing in first-time freshmen. We're not growing in transfers other than online."

Gamble also attributed some of his university's growth to their inexpensive master's degree in business administration, as well as a fairly cheap social work degree — which he said gives them national attention.

New Mexico Highlands University's enrollment has been steadily dropping over the last few years from 3,768 students in 2012, to 3,740 in 2013, losing 28 students that year. Enrollment dropped another 180 students in 2014, down to 3,560. Enrollment rose in 2015, to 3,608, with the university gaining 48 students. Enrollment numbers for 2016 were not available by press time Monday.

Shepard said if the Legislature continues to cut funding to universities, WNMU could be forced to raise tuition or find a way to cut costs.

"At the moment, it does not necessarily mean layoffs," he said, but if the cuts continue, it could.

"Our reserves are healthy enough to bide us some time, but ultimately there would have to be a reduction in workforce and a reduction in faculty."