New Mexico State University-Main Campus is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It enrolls 11,946 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 (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes43
Value87
Affordability79
Selectivity17
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 89%, New Mexico State University-Main Campus is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
89%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
870 – 1110
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether New Mexico State University-Main Campus is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
21.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending New Mexico State University-Main Campus 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 $8,889 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$8,889
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
38%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
20%
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)
$8,183
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$25,307
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,282
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,052
Books & Supplies
$1,250
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,536
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,536
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,274
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$6,648
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,424
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,861
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,146
Over $110,000
$14,049
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-Main Campus graduate within six years, and 74% 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
74%
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-Main Campus 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-Main Campus is home to 11,946 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 44% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
11,946
Part-Time
15%
First-Generation
44%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 63.7%7,605
White 24.3%2,906
Other 5.9%704
International 2.5%295
Black 2.2%268
Asian 1.0%124
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at New Mexico State University-Main Campus. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbLas Cruces, New Mexico
Housing
Partly residential3,269 beds available
Adult Learners
20%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
New Mexico State University-Main Campus offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
155 distinct programs across
27 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-Main Campus is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,700
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$77M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$88,998
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
675 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
216
32%
$111,482
Associate Professors
180
27%
$89,353
Assistant Professors
217
32%
$75,510
Instructors
8
1%
$46,712
No Rank
54
8%
$58,342
Pros & Cons of New Mexico State University-Main Campus
A quick at-a-glance summary of how New Mexico State University-Main Campus tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, New Mexico State University-Main Campus 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.
Frequently Asked Questions about New Mexico State University-Main Campus
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about New Mexico State University-Main Campus.
Is New Mexico State University-Main Campus hard to get into?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 89%.
What is the acceptance rate at New Mexico State University-Main Campus?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 89%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for New Mexico State University-Main Campus?
The middle 50% of admitted students at New Mexico State University-Main Campus scored between 870 and 1110 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for New Mexico State University-Main Campus?
The middle 50% of admitted students at New Mexico State University-Main Campus scored between 17 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does New Mexico State University-Main Campus cost?
The average net price after aid at New Mexico State University-Main Campus is $8,889 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-Main Campus worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $39,067 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,889 per year. That's roughly 4.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is New Mexico State University-Main Campus known for?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus is best known for its programs in Nursing, Criminal Justice, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do New Mexico State University-Main Campus graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering New Mexico State University-Main Campus are $39,067, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is New Mexico State University-Main Campus accredited?
Yes. New Mexico State University-Main Campus is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend New Mexico State University-Main Campus?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus enrolls 11,946 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at New Mexico State University-Main Campus?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus graduates 33% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is New Mexico State University-Main Campus a public or private college?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus is a Public institution.
Where is New Mexico State University-Main Campus located?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
What programs does New Mexico State University-Main Campus offer?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus offers 155 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Criminal Justice, Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at New Mexico State University-Main Campus?
The student-to-faculty ratio at New Mexico State University-Main Campus is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in New Mexico
Other colleges in New Mexico share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Average earnings per dollar of net price, ranked across 50 states. New Mexico returns 5.8x and tops the list, while Vermont sits last at 2.1x.
College ROI
Net price
Earnings
State rankings
Value
American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
Rankings That Feature New Mexico State University-Main Campus
New Mexico State University-Main Campus appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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