Playas is a college town: 44 of every 100 residents are students
No college sits inside Playas’ boundary, but Western New Mexico University’s campus in Silver City, with 2,302 students on campus, is 61.5 miles from the center of town, and New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is 109.6 miles away in Las Cruces. Across New Mexico, 6 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Playas. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Playas
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
What it’s like to live in Playas
How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.
44 of every 100 Playas residents are in college (NM: 6).
How students change Playas’ other numbers
Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →
The Cost grade leaves out the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent wherever students are a quarter of residents or more (44% here): it would mostly measure student incomes.
CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and Playas’ median age is 21.4 (New Mexico 39.4), so the adult figures describe a young population.
Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.
The nearest college to Playas
All 0 are public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Playas.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at Under $30k; the Census has no median household income for Playas.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.
Questions about college near Playas
Is Playas a college town?
Yes. 44 of every 100 Playas residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 6 across New Mexico. The nearest campus, Western New Mexico University, is 61.5 miles away in Silver City.
What colleges are near Playas?
Within 15 miles: .
What is the closest community college to Playas, and what does it cost?
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana in Las Cruces, 109.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,322 a year for New Mexico residents; the federal net price, $6,048, counts housing and food at full cost.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Playas. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →