ALBUQUERQUE – The president of New Mexico’s flagship university is warning state lawmakers that the University of New Mexico could face as much as a $10 million hit to its budget as fewer students are enrolling.
President Garnett Stokes told a panel of lawmakers during a recent meeting that officials were predicting a drop in enrollment but it was more substantial than expected, meaning less money will be coming in from tuition and fees.
She said the loss of revenue follows multiple years of many cuts at the university but that it’s critical for the University of New Mexico to keep tuition low given that New Mexico is a state where many can’t afford to access higher education.
Figures released by the university show overall enrollment has declined around 7 percent from the previous fall semester.
