The most recent figures reveal that in-state tuition at Luna Community College rose by 6.7% for the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
New Mexico residents were charged $1,538 to attend the two-year public college this year, an increase of $96 from the $1,442 tuition fee in the 2021-22 academic year.
Non-resident students paid $2,882 in tuition for the 2022-23 year, which is 87.4% higher than the in-state rate. This amount reflects a 6.2% increase from the previous year’s $2,714 tuition for non-residents.
Approximately 83% of the undergraduate student body at Luna Community College are residents of New Mexico, while about 16% come from other states.
Data indicates that 94% of full-time undergraduates who enrolled in the 2022-23 academic year received some form of financial aid. Specifically, 70 students were awarded grants or scholarships totaling $275,159, and five students obtained student loans amounting to more than $26,603.
Across the entire undergraduate population, 347 students received grants or scholarships totaling $1.4 million. Additionally, 24 students borrowed a total of $112,896 in federal student loans.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Type of Aid | Number of students awarded aid | Percent awarded aid | Total amount of aid awarded | Average amount of aid per student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal grants | 40 | 45% | $201,607 | $5,040 |
| State / local grant or scholarship | 34 | 38% | $38,821 | $1,142 |
| Institutional grants or scholarships | 20 | 22% | $34,731 | $1,737 |
| Grant or scholarship aid total | 70 | 79% | $275,159 | $3,931 |
| Federal student loans | 0 | 4% | $0 | $0 |
| Other student loans | 0 | 1% | $0 | $0 |
| Student loan aid | 5 | 6% | $26,603 | $5,321 |
| Total student aid | 84 | 94% | $301,762 | $3,592 |
