Vance Randolph, author of "Ozark Folksongs," certainly thought they were folk. He included college variants of songs, in the volumes "Blow the Candle Out" and "Roll Me in Your Arms," edited by Legman.
He did not include fight songs, but what else are they? They certainly have a life outside of the school and alumni songbooks.

I have a book of photographs taken about 1918 when my father attended (and got tossed out?) of New Mexico A and M. (now New Mexico State). A pretty wild bunch!