For families with a lower EFC, UNM may provide extra aid for R&B and other expenses. When S20 was accepted last year, UNM’s final COA (money from my pocket) was among the lowest we received. They may not do it for all families but they were very generous to us. The COA was well under $10K.
Of course, travel costs would have still been a consideration. But, at the price UNM offered for Tuition+R&B, I could have afforded the travel if UNM had been the final choice.