New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It enrolls 5,177 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes19
Value80
Affordability63
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, New Mexico State University-Dona Ana generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending New Mexico State University-Dona Ana isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $6,048 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$6,048
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
9%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$2,322
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$6,360
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,052
Books & Supplies
$1,250
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,536
Total Cost of Attendance
$14,397
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$5,475
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,904
$48,001 – $75,000
$7,663
$75,001 – $110,000
$10,624
Over $110,000
$13,381
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,25010%percentile
$4,46825%percentile
$17,095Medianpercentile
$23,35975%percentile
$36,72890%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,000
↓ $6,095
No Pell $7,500
↓ $9,595
Dependent students $9,000
↓ $8,095
Independent students $12,500
↓ $4,595
Female students $10,555
↓ $6,540
Male students $9,597
↓ $7,498
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,043, less than completers ($17,095), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
33% of full-time students who enrolled at New Mexico State University-Dona Ana graduate within six years, and 62% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
33%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
62%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered New Mexico State University-Dona Ana earn a median of $39,067 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$39,067
Earning > $25K
63%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,300, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
21.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is home to 5,177 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 44% are first-generation college students, 44% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
5,177
Part-Time
44%
First-Generation
44%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 76.6%3,963
White 14.9%772
Other 2.8%143
International 2.4%125
Black 1.9%100
Asian 0.6%29
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at New Mexico State University-Dona Ana. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityLas Cruces, New Mexico
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
27%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Branch campus
What You Can Study
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
58 distinct programs across
16 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is 20:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,463
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,543
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
122 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
37
30%
$75,650
Associate Professors
19
16%
$68,014
Assistant Professors
36
30%
$60,754
Instructors
25
20%
$55,979
No Rank
5
4%
$63,654
Pros & Cons of New Mexico State University-Dona Ana
A quick at-a-glance summary of how New Mexico State University-Dona Ana tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about New Mexico State University-Dona Ana
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about New Mexico State University-Dona Ana.
Is New Mexico State University-Dona Ana hard to get into?
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at New Mexico State University-Dona Ana?
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does New Mexico State University-Dona Ana cost?
The average net price after aid at New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is $6,048 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is New Mexico State University-Dona Ana worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $39,067 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,048 per year. That's roughly 6.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is New Mexico State University-Dona Ana known for?
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Allied Health Diagnostic, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do New Mexico State University-Dona Ana graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering New Mexico State University-Dona Ana are $39,067, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is New Mexico State University-Dona Ana accredited?
Yes. New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend New Mexico State University-Dona Ana?
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana enrolls 5,177 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at New Mexico State University-Dona Ana?
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana graduates 33% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is New Mexico State University-Dona Ana a public or private college?
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is a Public institution.
Where is New Mexico State University-Dona Ana located?
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
What programs does New Mexico State University-Dona Ana offer?
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana offers 58 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Allied Health Diagnostic, Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at New Mexico State University-Dona Ana?
The student-to-faculty ratio at New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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