Quad

New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Las Cruces, NMQuad's selectivityOpen
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

New Mexico State admits about 9 in 10 applicants (89%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 25% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

89%

89%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

13,095

Admitted

11,650

Yield

21%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

870–1110

8001600
ACT middle 50%

17–24

1236
Applications +84% since fall 2014 · admit rate 70% → 89%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 11,946 undergrads, where 38% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

11.9K

undergrads · larger than 91% of colleges

Diversity index

0.53

Pell Grant

38%

above the median

First generation

44%

above the median

Midsize suburbNCAA D-I FBS · Conference USAROTCStudy abroad
Less diverse · index 0.61 → 0.53 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (6% of graduates). 16 students for every faculty member, more than at 72% of colleges. 75% of faculty are full-time. Spends $12,132 a year on instruction per student.

16 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 72% of colleges

Most popular major

Criminal Justice/Safety Studies

6% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering

$96.5K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

75%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$12.1K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $15,878 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $8.4K less than the national median. The 96% who received grants paid $10,719 on average; the other 4% paid the full sticker price of $26,111 in-state / $43,235 out-of-state.

47%

$15.9K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $8.4K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$26,111 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 47% of full price

Federal loans

20%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −10% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $39,067 ten years after enrolling, more than at 12% of colleges; 55% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.6 years of that salary.

55%

55%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$39.1K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$17.1K

≈ $181/month for 10 years

Retention

73%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 46% → 55% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 4% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 10%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 84% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 70% to 89%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −10% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +84%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 70% → 89%

  • Diversity

    Less diverse

    index 0.61 → 0.53

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

87% admit · SAT 1030 · 8.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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University of Central Arkansas

89% admit · SAT 1040 · 7.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
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Radford University

89% admit · SAT 1050 · 6.1K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso public
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Ferris State University

91% admit · SAT 1005 · 8.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    New Mexico State University-Main Campus (2026)

    New Mexico State University-Main Campus · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 188030 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything