New Mexico State University-Main Campus — College Profile

About

New Mexico State University (NMSU) is a premier public, land-grant, and space-grant research institution designated as a top Hispanic-Serving Institution, renowned for its strong academic offerings in engineering, agricultural sciences, astronomy, and nursing. Set against the scenic backdrop of the Organ Mountains, the university distinguishes itself through deep research partnerships with NASA and the White Sands Missile Range, as well as unique facilities like the world-famous Chile Pepper Institute. Student life is defined by a welcoming, multicultural Southwestern culture, accessible outdoor recreation, and proud school traditions centered on NCAA Division I Aggie athletics.

Wikipedia:New Mexico State University is a public, land-grant, research university in University Park, New Mexico, United States, in the Las Cruces area. Founded in 1888, it is the state's oldest public institution of higher education, and was the original land-grant university in the region. NMSU is a university system, with its main campus in Las Cruces and satellite campuses in Alamogordo, Doña Ana County, and Grants. Through the NMSU Cooperative Extension Service, it has centers or programs in all 33 counties in the state.

Location

Las Cruces, NM, 88003-8001 · Suburb campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

ABQ · Albuquerque

191 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$8,183$25,307

Housing & food (on campus)$12,282$12,282

Books & supplies$1,250$1,250

Cost of attendance$23,274$45,400

Average net price$8,889Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$25,307

In-state: $8,183

Housing & food (on campus)$12,282

Books & supplies$1,250

Cost of attendance$45,400

In-state: $23,274

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $8,889

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: fa.nmsu.edu

How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27

New Mexico State University-Main Campus’s own figures for 2026-27, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$26,964

Housing$6,550

Food$5,964

Books & supplies$1,330

Personal expenses$2,674

Transportation$1,918

Total of the above$45,400

Source: fa.nmsu.edu · checked Sep 28, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$6,648

$30–48k

$7,424

$48–75k

$9,861

$75–110k

$13,146

$110k+

$14,049

Your family's actual price → New Mexico State University-Main Campus net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

54%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

34%

Back for yr 2

73%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

53% graduated · 27% transferred · 2% still enrolled · 18% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$32,960

10 yrs after entry$39,067

Debt

Median at graduation$17,095

Monthly payment$181

Middle 50% owe$4.5k–$23.4k

90th percentile$36,728

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

89%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1011

R 450–570 · M 420–540

ACT midpoint

Comp 17–24 · E 15–24 · M 16–23

SAT middle 50%: 870–1110

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If New Mexico State University-Main Campus asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 42%Women 58%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

16 : 1

Pell grant

38%

First-gen

44%

Family income

$23,951

Independent

30%

Veterans

Age at entry

23.0

Part-time

15%

Race & ethnicity

White

24%

Hispanic

64%

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

AI/AN

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Cross Country
Men's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming and Diving (combined)
Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$32,960

After 10 yrs

$39,067

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing182

Criminal Justice and Corrections152

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities141

Mechanical Engineering122

Psychology, General104

Biology, General99

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods92

Computer and Information Sciences, General90

Business/Commerce, General83

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering80

Animal Sciences77

Marketing76

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness74

Business Administration, Management and Operations57

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services46

Finance and Financial Management Services44

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$89M

Full-time faculty

75%

Faculty salary

$10,198/mo

Teaching spend

$12,132

per student

Federal loans

20%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral University

Research activity

R1 — very high research

$143M research spending · 97 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile