New Mexico State University-Main Campus (NMSU)
Public four-year university in Las Cruces, NM that costs an average of $6,313 a year after financial aid, admits 89% of applicants and graduates 54% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$6,313
Acceptance rate
89%
Graduation rate
54%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$43,922
PublicMidsize suburb11,946 undergraduates
Cost of NMSU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $21,766 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $8,226 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $25,350 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $11,956 |
| Books and supplies | $1,290 |
| Average net price after aid | $6,313 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $4,997 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $4,271 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $5,768 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $8,855 |
| $110,001+ | $11,619 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with NMSU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 89% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,011 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 450–570 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 420–540 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 17–24 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 54% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 73% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $38,314 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $43,922 |
| Rank in New Mexico (earnings) | 7th of 10 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $14,980 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $170 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 48% |
| Students with federal loans | 24% |
Majors and programs at NMSU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (81)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering | 49 | $78,562 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 319 | $75,187 | $13,046 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 220 | $74,264 | $17,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 66 | $73,386 | $18,163 |
| Civil Engineering | 94 | $69,181 | $14,150 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 142 | $67,553 | $12,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 238 | $65,245 | $15,175 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 71 | $64,645 | $16,750 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 41 | $53,008 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 78 | $50,627 | $14,883 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 194 | $48,171 | $24,755 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 92 | $46,889 | $12,750 |
| Public Health | 50 | $42,963 | $24,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 60 | $41,743 | $20,948 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 110 | $41,176 | $12,133 |
| Business/Commerce | 177 | $41,139 | $20,375 |
| Agriculture | 46 | $40,760 | — |
| Social Work | 80 | $40,549 | $14,420 |
| Plant Sciences | 39 | $40,393 | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 61 | $38,278 | $14,357 |
| Political Science and Government | 48 | $37,502 | $21,500 |
| Marketing | 147 | $37,367 | $17,850 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 42 | $36,493 | $15,250 |
| Journalism | 64 | $36,410 | $14,000 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 56 | $36,080 | $13,750 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 292 | $35,592 | $15,075 |
| Animal Sciences | 141 | $32,943 | $13,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 300 | $32,854 | $13,688 |
| Sociology | 52 | $32,831 | — |
| Psychology | 221 | $32,266 | $12,500 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 113 | $32,248 | $11,562 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 145 | $31,331 | $12,000 |
| English Language and Literature | 51 | $30,706 | $12,210 |
| Biology | 196 | $29,428 | $12,538 |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 48 | $27,522 | $18,000 |
| Graphic Communications | 71 | $24,984 | $19,728 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 78 | $17,991 | $14,769 |
| Agricultural Public Services | — | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 11 | — | — |
| Anthropology | 32 | — | — |
| Apparel and Textiles | 17 | — | — |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | 1 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 19 | — | — |
| Botany/Plant Biology | 4 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 4 | — | — |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | — | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 42 | — | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 72 | — | — |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | — | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 2 | — | — |
| Dance | 2 | — | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 17 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 22 | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 4 | — | — |
| Economics | 19 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 7 | — | — |
| Engineering Physics | 11 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians | 12 | — | — |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | — | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 4 | — | — |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | — | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | — | — | — |
| Food Science and Technology | 7 | — | — |
| Genetics | 13 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 5 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 10 | — | — |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering | — | — | — |
| History | 28 | — | — |
| Industrial Engineering | 13 | — | — |
| International Business | 14 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 21 | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 45 | — | $15,003 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 27 | — | — |
| Music | 10 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 17 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 41 | — | — |
| Physics | 18 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Soil Sciences | 3 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 14 | — | — |
Certificate programs (24)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | — | — |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | — | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | — | — | — |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Data Processing | — | — | — |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | — | — | — |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | — | — | — |
| Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other | — | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | — | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | — | — | — |
| Legal Support Services | — | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | — | — | — |
| Precision Metal Working | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (39)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | $80,400 | $11,075 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | $61,644 | $9,000 |
| Data Processing | — | $38,963 | — |
| Business/Commerce | 1 | $32,715 | $6,250 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | — | $30,879 | $9,250 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | — | $28,775 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | $28,705 | $7,750 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | $27,406 | $4,500 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | — | — | — |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | — | — | — |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | — | — | — |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | — | — | — |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Engineering | — | — | — |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | — | — | — |
| Fire Protection | — | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | — | — | — |
| Graphic Communications | — | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | — | — | — |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | — | — | — |
| Homeland Security | — | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | — | — | — |
| Human Services | — | — | — |
| Legal Support Services | — | — | — |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | — | — | — |
| Precision Metal Working | — | — | — |
| Public Health | — | — | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | — | — | — |
| Social Work | — | — | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (62)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 143 | $73,302 | $30,281 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 30 | $65,668 | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 38 | $65,427 | $30,800 |
| Public Health | 93 | $61,764 | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | — | $56,872 | — |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | 25 | $55,601 | — |
| Social Work | 155 | $55,244 | $20,500 |
| Education | 150 | $52,358 | $28,620 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 27 | $50,999 | — |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 6 | — | — |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 6 | — | — |
| Agriculture | 15 | — | — |
| Animal Sciences | 6 | — | — |
| Anthropology | 32 | — | — |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 12 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 3 | — | — |
| Biology | 24 | — | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 8 | — | — |
| Botany/Plant Biology | 8 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 8 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 5 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 38 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | — | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 25 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 78 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 17 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 32 | — | — |
| Economics | 12 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 27 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 33 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 17 | — | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 7 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 6 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 10 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 12 | — | — |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | — | — | — |
| History | 2 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | — | — | — |
| Industrial Engineering | 56 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | 14 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 24 | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 26 | — | — |
| Museology/Museum Studies | — | — | — |
| Music | 13 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | — | — | — |
| Physics | 10 | — | — |
| Plant Sciences | 23 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 5 | — | — |
| Psychology | — | — | — |
| Public Administration | 8 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 9 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 25 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 13 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 30 | — | — |
| Sociology | 23 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | — | — | — |
| Statistics | 10 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 19 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 27 | — | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 2 | — | — |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 16 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (26)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 12 | $89,193 | — |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 2 | — | — |
| Animal Sciences | 3 | — | — |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 5 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 2 | — | — |
| Biology | 6 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 10 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 13 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 10 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 4 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 26 | — | — |
| Economics | 5 | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Engineering | 38 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | 2 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 6 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 2 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 2 | — | — |
| Physics | 5 | — | — |
| Plant Sciences | 13 | — | — |
| Psychology | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 1 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | — | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 1 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 4 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 1 | — | — |
Professional degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 39 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (18)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | 2 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 13 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | — | — | — |
| Economics | 19 | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 4 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | — | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 5 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | — | — |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | 13 | — | — |
| Museology/Museum Studies | 10 | — | — |
| Public Health | 9 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 26 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 34 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | — | — | — |
| Systems Engineering | 8 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 37 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 9 | — | — |
Similar colleges in New Mexico
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus | Albuquerque | $19,966 | 95% | $50,072 |
| Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | Portales | $5,238 | 92% | $44,198 |
| Western New Mexico University | Silver City | $6,328 | — | $41,452 |
| New Mexico Highlands University | Las Vegas | $18,315 | — | $48,104 |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | Socorro | $20,862 | 44% | $71,723 |
| Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development | Santa Fe | $11,199 | 97% | $26,385 |
About NMSU
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Las Cruces, NM |
| Setting | Midsize suburb |
| Undergraduates | 11,946 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 16 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | nmsu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is NMSU's acceptance rate?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus admits 89% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,011 on the SAT.
How much does NMSU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $21,766 a year (tuition and fees: $8,226 in-state, $25,350 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $6,313 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $4,997.
How much do NMSU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $43,922 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 7th of 10 similar colleges in New Mexico. The best-paid bachelor's program is chemical engineering ($78,562 a year after graduation).
What is NMSU's graduation rate?
54% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 73% of first-year students return for a second year.