Definitions
This section contains definitions of terms that are commonly used by the business office personnel.
Finalize - to accept financial responsibility for charges assessed to the student account. This is done by completing payment arrangements – paying your account in full, setting up on a payment plan, payment in full by a Third Party agency, or having sufficient financial aid funds to cover your total charges.
Third Party Payer - an agency, which agrees to provide partial or complete payment on the student’s behalf. This would include such agencies as employers and job training organizations.
Memo - is Financial Aid, which has been approved by the Office of Financial Aid and accepted on an award letter by the student. The funds, however, have yet to be received by the university.
Disbursement - the action of releasing of Financial Aid payments to the student account. The release of funds is a function of the Office of Financial Aid.
Refund - is generated to a student account when the funds applied by disbursement exceed the assessed charges. Typically the source of funds is disbursed as Financial Aid.
Hold - is a status placed on your account alerting other offices within the University of an unresolved issue. A hold can be placed on a student account to prevent certain processes such as graduation or finalization of registration.
Residency Status
The definition of resident and non-resident status for the purpose of administering tuition charges in public institutions of higher education in New Mexico is governed by New Mexico Sessions Laws 1971, Chapter 235, Section 1E. Residence or nonresidence for tuition purposes is based on this law and is not controlled by any other public official’s recognition of claimed residency.
The Director of Admissions is designated as the WNMU official responsible for determining the residence status for tuition purposes. All inquiries concerning residency for tuition purposes should be made at the Admissions Office.
- Costs
- Tuition and Fees Tuition and fee charges are subject to changes made by the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents.
- On Campus Regular Sessions:
| Summer Session 2020: |
| Hours |
Undergraduate |
Graduate |
| 1 |
$235.83 |
$249.47 |
| 2 |
$471.66 |
$498.94 |
| 3 |
$707.49 |
$748.41 |
| 4 |
$943.32 |
$997.88 |
| 5 |
$1,179.15 |
$1,247.35 |
| 6 |
$1,414.98 |
$1,496.82 |
| 7 |
$1,650.81 |
$1,746.29 |
| 8 |
$1,886.64 |
$1,995.76 |
| 9 |
$2,122.47 |
$2,245.23 |
| 10 |
$2,358.30 |
$2,494.70 |
Tuition and fee charges are subject to change(s) made by the WNMU Board of Regents and may be revised.
Note: There are administrative and student fees assessed per credit hour - per student - per semester. These amounts are included in the rates listed above. See section B for more information.
| Fall 2020 - Spring 2021:* |
| |
New Mexico Residents |
Non-Residents |
| Hours |
Undergraduate |
Graduate |
Undergraduate |
Graduate |
| 1 |
$279.93 |
$287.57 |
$351.98 |
$371.73 |
| 2 |
$547.86 |
$575.14 |
$703.96 |
$743.46 |
| 3 |
$821.79 |
$862.71 |
$1,055.94 |
$1,115.19 |
| 4 |
$1,095.72 |
$1,150.28 |
$1,407.92 |
$1,486.92 |
| 5 |
$1,369.65 |
$1,437.85 |
$1,759.90 |
$1,858.65 |
| 6 |
$1,643.58 |
$1,725.42 |
$2,111.88 |
$2,230.38 |
| 7 |
$1,917.51 |
$2,012.99 |
$3,954.16 |
$4,024.16 |
| 8 |
$2,191.44 |
$2,300.56 |
$4,519.04 |
$4,599.04 |
| 9 |
$2,465.37 |
$2,588.13 |
$5,083.92 |
$5,173.92 |
| 10 |
$2,739.30 |
$2,875.70 |
$5,648.80 |
$5,748.80 |
| 11 |
$3,013.23 |
$3,163.27 |
$6,213.68 |
$6,323.68 |
| 12 |
$3,287.16 |
$3450.84 |
$6,778.56 |
$6,898.56 |
| 13 |
$3,561.09 |
$3,738.41 |
$7,343.44 |
$7,473.44 |
| 14 |
$3,835.02 |
$4,025.98 |
$7,908.32 |
$8,048.32 |
| 15 |
$3,698.06 |
$4,313.55 |
$7,625.88 |
$8,623.20 |
| 16 |
$3,698.06 |
$4,601.12 |
$7,625.88 |
$9,198.08 |
| 17 |
$3,698.06 |
$4,888.69 |
$7,625.88 |
$9,772.96 |
| 18 |
$3,698.06 |
$5,176.26 |
$7,625.88 |
$10,347.84 |
| 19 |
$3,971.99 |
$5,463.83 |
$8,190.76 |
$10,922.72 |
| 20 |
$4,245.92 |
$5,751.40 |
$8,755.64 |
$11,497.60 |
Note: There are administrative and student fees assessed per credit hour - per student - per semester. These amounts are included in the rates listed above. See section B for more information.
- Senior Citizens - $5.00 per credit hour.* This rate is applied on a space-available basis only to New Mexico Residents 65 or older who are enrolled for six (6) or fewer credit hours. State law requires that senior citizens taking more than six (6) credit hours be charged the full rate for all credits, based on in-state or out-of-state residency.
Senior Citizens will be required to pay the administrative fees (see section B) and any associated lab fees.
- Regular Fees
- Administrative fees summer (per credit hour) $10.95
- Administrative fees fall/spring (per credit hour) $6.88
- Student fees summer (per credit hour) $22.33
- Student fees fall (per credit hour) $82.24
- Applied Technology:
Automotive Technology $30.00
Construction $15.00-25.00
Office Technology $10.00
Welding $25.00
- Art lab fee $10.00 & higher
- Forensic Science lab fee $17.00
- Music fees
Applied Music fee 1 credit hour $150.00
Applied Music fee 2 credit hour $195.00
Music Theory lab fee $10.00
- Natural Science lab fees
Main Campus $20.00
T or C $30.00
- Police Academy lab fee and testing fees apply. Contact the Police Academy at (575) 538-6288 for more information.
- Student Teaching lab fee $75.00
- Certain courses, including many Vocational Education courses, require additional laboratory fees. Those fees are listed in the schedule of classes published each semester.
- Online course fee/per credit hour
Undergraduate $30.00
Graduate $40.00
- Video Conferencing Lab Fees/per credit hour $25.00
- Special Service Fees (Non-Refundable)
- Alumni Associations (optional) per year $10.00
- Challenged course examination (per cr. hr.) $15.00 Course requires same tuition and fees as courses not challenged
- Graduation fee Certificate, Undergraduate, Graduate no charge
- Installment Plans $25.00
- Parking Permits (per vehicle) no charge
- Placement Bureau $10.00
- The fees for transcripts will be as follows:
E-Transcript (Electronic) $10.00
Paper transcript pickup $10.00
Paper transcript mailed standard USPS $12.50
Paper transcript mailed USPS international $15.00
Paper transcript mailed FedEx overnight Domestic $35.00
Paper transcript mailed FedEx International Priority $57.50
No transcripts will be issued if the student has financial obligations pending.
- Penalty Fees
- Late Registration Fee $50.00
- Late Fee for unpaid student account balances (per semester) $50.00
- Parking Fines $5.00 up to 30.00 per infraction
- Parking in handicap zones without a permit, first offense $60.00
Second and each subsequent offense $100.00
- Lost/Replacement Mustang ID $15.00
Dual Enrollment/Concurrent Student ID $10.00
- Returned Checks (maker of check will lose check-writing privileges) $25.00
- Special Assessments-In the event of breakage or damage to WNMU property, the administration reserves the right to assess the person or persons responsible for replacement or cost of repairs.
- Testing Fees
All testing fees will be paid online via MarketPlace or with cash at the Business Office in Castorena Hall prior to testing.
- ACCUPLACER seat fee $10.00
- ACCUPLACER scores sent elsewhere* $10.00
- GED (High School Equivalency) seat fee $10.00
- HiSet (High School Equivalency) seat fee $10.00
- CLEP (College Level Examination Program) $25.00
- Proctor Administrative Fee $25.00
The ACT, SAT, NBCC, CPCE, NCE, CLEP, HiSet, NES, and GED are administered by WNMU. Check the appropriate web site for cost and information.
*Student ACCUPLACER scores must be requested by the student directly, in writing by emailing testing@wnmu.edu. Scores will be sent to desired destination upon receipt of payment. All other scores must be requested through the appropriate testing vendor’s webpage.
- Housing and Food Service
WNMU operates the residence hall and food services on a self-supporting basis. Published rates are therefore subject to change when necessary to meet operating costs. WNMU reserves the right to reassign students within residence halls if occupancy problems make it necessary.
Meal services are required as a part of the Housing Agreement. Students may select from various meal options.
Notice: The student is encouraged to provide insurance on his/her personal property as WNMU covers the property of WNMU only.
- Residence Hall Room/Apartment Payment (per semester)
Mustang Village (coed)
Suite 5 bedroom, 2 bathroom
(assigned to one room in a suite) $2,995.00
Suite 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom
(assigned to one room in a suite) $3,205.00
Centennial Hall (coed)
Suite 4 bedroom (assigned to one room in a suite) $2,418.00
Muir Heights Apartments (21 and up only)
One Bedroom $3,505.00
Two Bedrooms $3,005.00
- Meal Plans
- $1800/semester: 10 meals per week with $225 in flex dollars
- $1950/semester: 15 meals per week with $225 in flex dollars
- $2150/semester: 19 meals per week with $175 in flex dollars
- Books and Supplies (estimated cost only per semester) $400.00
Students are allowed to purchase books through the WNMU Bookstore using their Financial Aid credit balance at times designated by the Business Office for each term. Please contact the Business Office for additional information.
- Completing your Enrollment
All students (no exceptions) must confirm their registration for the fall semester by August 23rd, 2019 and by January 17th, 2020 (this date is subject to change) for the spring semester. A student is financially responsible for all charges incurred as a result of their registration activity. If you do not plan to attend WNMU, you must officially withdraw. To confirm your enrollment, you may do so in one of the following ways:
Payment in full for all of the assessed student charges.
- Pay the balance in full with cash, check or credit card;
- Have enough Financial Aid to pay in full;
- Submit, to the Business Office, a contract agreement from a third party agency;
- Submit, to the Business Office, a faculty/staff tuition waiver.
Payment Plan
- If a student cannot pay his or her account in full and needs to spread the balance over monthly payments throughout the semester;
- If a student’s Financial Aid and/or scholarships will be paying only a portion of his or her account, then a payment plan will be established for the remaining balance;
- If a student wants to pay his or her account with work-study funds, the Business Office offers a special payment plan. Contact the Business Office for more information;
- Any finalized student account with a balance due after August 23rd for the fall and January 17th for the spring will be automatically enrolled in a payment plan and assessed a $25 non-refundable fee.
*Please be aware that any change in enrollment status may result in a decrease or loss of Financial Aid eligibility.
- Payment Schedule
- Tuition and Fees
Fall, Spring and Summer - Payment of tuition and fees is due in full at the time of finalization unless other payment arrangements are made. Please contact the Business Office for details. See also Payment Method below.
- Room and Board
Payment of Room and Board is due in full at the time of finalization, unless arrangements are made to be on an installment payment plan at the Business Office.
- Apartment Rents
Payment of Room and Board is due in full at the time of finalization, unless arrangements are made to be on an installment payment plan at the Business Office.
- Childcare
Payment for childcare tuition, is due at the time of finalization unless arrangements are made with the Child Development Center.
- Books and Supplies
Students are allowed to purchase books through the WNMU Bookstore using their Financial Aid credit balance at times designated by the Business Office for each term.
- Payment Methods
All bills incurred in connection with WNMU attendance are due and payable in advance of services rendered. Checks and money orders should be made payable to Western New Mexico University Business Office, Box 680, Silver City, NM. 88062. Payments should be accompanied with the student’s name and social security/student ID number.
Any payments made to students by the Business Office (work-study, Financial Aid, Deposit, etc.) are subject to clearance of current installments due to the institution before cash will be issued. Failure of a student to take proper steps to meet any financial obligations when due will be sufficient cause to:
1. Prohibit the student from registering;
2. Withhold academic records;
3. Take disciplinary action including suspension/turned over to Collections;
4. Prohibit the student from paying graduation fees;
5.Prohibit future enrollment in a installment payment plan.
Interest-free Monthly Payment Plan
A student may take advantage of the installment payment plan option for a $25 non-refundable fee. Students enrolled in one or more credit hours may be eligible.
High school students taking classes as concurrent or dual students do not qualify for the payment plan option. Please see the section for concurrent students in the schedule for more information.
Waivers granting in-state tuition prices, housing and meal plan credits awarded to housing staff, and other institution-awarded waivers do NOT qualify as a financial commitment by the student.
All charges at WNMU will be included in the installment plan with the following exceptions: books, graduation fees, NEA insurance dues, most testing fees, or transcripts.
Fall Semester Schedule
Beginning with pre-registration through August 23rd, any eligible student in good financial standing can enroll into a payment plan. A $25 non-refundable installment plan fee will be included in the plan total and no down payment is required. Any Financial Aid, waivers and/or third party contracts will reduce the overall plan total and the remaining balance will be divided into four equal installments of 25% payable as follows:
August 15th – September 15th – October 15th – November 15th
Spring Semester Schedule
Beginning with pre-registration through January 17th, any eligible student in good financial standing can enroll into a payment plan. A $25 non-refundable installment plan fee will be included in the plan total and no down payment is required. Any Financial Aid, waivers and/or third party contracts will reduce the overall plan total and the remaining balance will be divided into four equal installments of 25% payable as follows:
January 15th – February 15th – March 15th – April 15th
Summer Semester Schedule
Beginning with pre-registration through May 30th, any eligible student in good financial standing can enroll into a payment plan. A $25 non-refundable installment plan fee will be included in the plan total and no down payment is required. Any Financial Aid, waivers and/or third party contracts will reduce the overall plan total and the remaining balance will be divided into four equal installments of 25% payable as follows:
May 31st – June 15th – June 30th – July 15th
If any changes occur to your account after payment arrangements have been made, the plan amounts will be updated. Any increase in excess of the balance due when the payment plan was established will result in a balance due other than the agreed upon payments. Notification of these changes will be communicated through your Mustang Express e-mail address. It is important to monitor this e-mail account regularly to ensure that you are receiving the important notifications.
To qualify for the payment plan, mandatory scheduled payments will be required. Automatic deductions will be processed from the account you set up during enrollment.
Monthly payment notifications will be sent to the student’s Mustang Express e-mail address. If the balance is not paid by the final installment plan date the student’s account will be assessed a $50 default fee.
Online Payments
Students can make payments online at www.wnmu.edu. There are three options for making an online payment.
1. Payment with an electronic check.
2. Payment with a debit card.
3. Payment with a credit card.
- WNMU accepts MasterCard, Visa, and Discover credit cards.
- There may be a convenience fee assessed for online payments made with a credit card.
By paying online the student agrees to accept full financial responsibility for all of the charges assessed to their account. Mandatory scheduled payments will be required by one of these methods when participating in our installment plan. The system will not allow you to delete the payment method associated with your payment plan.
- Tuition Refund Policy
Students dropping courses or officially withdrawing during the semester are eligible to receive a refund as follows:
- Dropping Courses:
| Semester Timetable |
Potential Refund Status |
| From pre-registration |
If finalized, 100% of tuition and through the last day to drop a class. and student/course fees less registration fee or installment plan fee, if applicable. |
| After drop date to the last day of class |
NO REFUND |
Refund percentages are applied to total charges assessed and not the amount paid. Once the refund of charges is applied to the student’s account, there may be a balance due to the University or a credit due to the student. Rarely does refunding of charges result in the student’s account having a zero balance. A zero balance would require no action by either the University or the student. Once a student registers, the student is responsible for the total charges assessed regardless of whether the installment plan is used.
The tuition refund policy is subject to change(s) made by the Office of Business Affairs and does not apply to complete withdrawal from the University.
A student who drops courses up through the drop date will be given a 100% refund. Keep in mind, however, that dropping a course or courses can lead to a change in enrollment status (full-time to part-time), which could lead to changes in federal aid, scholarships, athletic eligibility or veteran’s benefits. Classes added will be posted to your account as additional billed hours and may be subject to additional tuition and/or fees. Please refer to the tuition and fee schedule.
A student who drops courses after the drop date will not receive a refund.
If your class starts before or after the first day of regularly scheduled classes the refund dates may differ, please check with the Business Office to see if you are eligible for a refund.
- Official Withdrawal:
- A student may withdraw from a course, with a grade of “W”, after the first week (4.00%) of the semester through the eleventh week (68.75%) of the semester (Example: for a 16 week course the beginning of the second week). Grades of “W” are not computed in the grade point average.
- An instructor may withdraw a student from the class rolls, with a grade of “W” after the first week (4.00%) of the semester through the eleventh week (68.75%) of the semester.
- A student may withdraw from all courses through the 11th week of class with grades of “W” unless grades have already been earned and assigned. A student who is withdrawing from all courses must do so by logging into their Mustang Express Account. The Semester Withdrawal link is under the Student Services tab.
- Refund Check Disbursement:
If a student account is paid using a credit card and then additional credits (to include Financial Aid and third party payments) are issued resulting in a credit due to the student; first priority is given to return the funds to the credit card and any excess will be issued as a check or through direct deposit.
As of July 1st, 2011 WNMU will implement a Financial Aid disbursement schedule as follows:
For summer:
Refunds are issued based on the session a student is attending. Dates will be determined based on the length of alternative sessions that are offered. The dates are published on the Business Office’s website as they are decided upon
For fall and spring terms:
- The first disbursement of a student’s eligible credit balance is released within 14 calendar days from the date the date that financial aid has paid over onto the student account. The dates are published on the Business Office’s website as they are decided upon.
Refund disbursement checks will either be mailed to the mailing address (MA) in Mustang Express or processed through direct deposit. Direct deposit of funds is available for checking/savings accounts. Instructions for signing up for direct deposit of refund disbursements are provided on the Business Office’s website.
If a student’s MA address is not correct, he/she may follow these instructions to update it.
- Log into Mustang Express via WNMU’s website (www.wnmu.edu).
- Click on the Student Tab and follow the steps after selecting the ‘Click here to alter your Mailing address’ link.
If the check is returned due to an incorrect address, the Business Office will make an additional attempt to contact the student, but if unsuccessful any Federal Financial Aid (including Student Loans, ACG Grants, Pell Grants, SEOG Grants and Smart grants) in excess of a student’s tuition and fees will be cancelled (equal to the amount of the refund check). (Refer to federal Financial Aid regulation: 34 CFR668.164(h)). Please contact the Business Office for more information. Financial Aid funds are awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded.
- Payment of Credit Balances
As of July 1, 2011 Western New Mexico University has instituted changes regarding the issuance and payment of credit balances to students due to Financial Aid disbursements posted to their account. A credit balance occurs whenever a student has funds credited to their account which exceeds the total amount of a student’s direct charges.
The credit balances are refunded directly to the student or parent as soon as possible but no later than fourteen (14) days after the date the funds were applied to a student’s account (34CFR668.164 (e)). Regulations stipulate that a student’s unpaid charges on their bill must be satisfied before a refund can be processed (34 CFR668.164(c)).
Federal Regulations also require that the University document when a student begins attending classes in order to be eligible for a refund of a credit balance (34 CFR690.80 (b)(ii). To expedite the purchase of books students are given a portion of eligible funds made available to them as soon as possible. The remaining credit balance will be released to students after the add/drop period designated by the Office of the Registrar.
- Delinquent Accounts
Any account not in current status on an installment contract will be considered past due. Once past due, a billing will be generated to elicit payment (or payment arrangements) within thirty days. Non-receipt of said billing does not relieve responsibility of payment. No response automatically turns the account over to NCO, our collection agency. In the event collection actions are necessary, any/all collection fees, will be added to the amount due and shall be paid by the debtor.
If judgment is obtained by WNMU in a court of law, all collection agency fees, court costs and attorney’s fees shall be the liability of the debtor.
- Restrictions/Sanctions on Services
- Sanctions:
WNMU will not allow students to finalize until ALL past due charges have been PAID IN FULL.
- Financial Holds:
Students who have not paid their debts in full to the University and all its affiliates, including but not limited to the New Mexico Educational Assistance Foundation, will not have the following information released to them or on behalf of them.
- Transcripts
- Information
- Records
- Student Rights:
Students have the right to review educational records to the extent that such rights are granted through applicable regulations and laws.
- Cancellation of Registration:
Students who do not finalize (make payment arrangements) with the Business Office, by the dis-enrollment date for the Fall and Spring semesters, will be dis-enrolled from all classes and have their registration cancelled. To alleviate this situation, students need to either pay for classes in full or make other financial arrangements. If your registration has been cancelled and you wish to re-enroll, there will be a late fee of $50.00 assessed to your student account and you must make financial arrangements or pay your account in full at time of re-registration.
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