Public · University

New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Las Cruces, New Mexico · Midsize suburb

#2 graduation rate in New Mexico#3 best value in New Mexico
89.0%
Admit rate
$8,889
Avg net price
55%
Graduation rate
$39,067
Median earnings

New Mexico State University-Main Campus is a public bachelor's-granting institution in Las Cruces, New Mexico (midsize suburb setting), enrolling 11,946 undergraduates. It is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).

PublicMidsize · 11,946 undergradsMidsize suburbAccessible · 89% admitNCAA Division I-FBS · Conference USACold winters

Will you get in?

See where your numbers land against New Mexico State University-Main Campus's admitted students.

Admit rate
89.0%
SAT (mid 50%)
870–1110
Avg GPA (est.)
2.92

Enter a test score to see where you land against New Mexico State University-Main Campus's admitted students.

A guide, not a prediction. It compares your numbers with the middle 50% of admitted students and New Mexico State University-Main Campus's overall admit rate — it can't see essays, recommendations, activities, or your intended major, which all move real decisions.

About Las Cruces, New Mexico

Las Cruces is a city in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States, and its county seat. During the Mexican–American War, the Battle of El Bracito was fought nearby on Christmas Day, 1846. The settlement of Las Cruces was founded in 1849, when the US Army first surveyed the town, thus opening up the area for American settlement. The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum is state-operated and shows the history of farming and ranching in New Mexico. It is located just east of New Mexico State University. (Wikipedia)

Setting
Midsize suburb
Highest degree offered
Graduate
Nearest big city
39 miles to El Paso, TX
To the ocean
378 miles
Nearest airport
10 miles to Las Cruces (LRU)

How New Mexico State University-Main Campus compares

View 74 more ranking appearances
#66 · Colleges with Average Net Price at or Below $15,000 with the Lowest Net Price #95 · Colleges with Average Net Price at or Below $15,000 with the Lowest Student Debt #85 · Hispanic-Serving Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates #36 · Hispanic-Serving Colleges with the Lowest Net Price #71 · Hispanic-Serving Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt #56 · Public Universities with the Lowest Net Price #87 · Public Universities with the Lowest Student Debt #37 · Test-Optional Colleges with the Lowest Net Price #61 · Test-Optional Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt #15 · College Campuses with the Least Annual Precipitation #47 · Cheapest Colleges for Families Earning Over $110,000 #5 · Colleges with the Highest Former-Student Earnings in New Mexico #3 · Colleges with the Lowest Net Price in New Mexico #2 · Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates in New Mexico #4 · Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt in New Mexico #3 · Colleges with the Highest Retention Rates in New Mexico #11 · Colleges with the Lowest Net Price in the West #46 · Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt in the West #44 · Colleges with the Highest Earnings Relative to Net Price in the West #87 · Best Public Universities in the West #93 · Best Colleges in the Southwest #10 · Colleges with the Lowest Net Price in the Southwest #33 · Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates in the Southwest #40 · Colleges with the Highest Retention Rates in the Southwest #12 · Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt in the Southwest #18 · Colleges with the Highest Earnings Relative to Net Price in the Southwest #51 · Best Public Universities in the Southwest #46 · Best Colleges in the Mountain West #3 · Colleges with the Lowest Net Price in the Mountain West #28 · Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates in the Mountain West #31 · Colleges with the Highest Retention Rates in the Mountain West #9 · Colleges with the Lowest Student Debt in the Mountain West #8 · Colleges with the Highest Earnings Relative to Net Price in the Mountain West #34 · Best Public Universities in the Mountain West #82 · Bachelor's Psychology, General Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #92 · Bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #27 · Associate Criminal Justice and Corrections Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #47 · Associate Criminal Justice and Corrections Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #99 · Bachelor's Computer and Information Sciences, General Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #88 · Associate Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #31 · Associate Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #46 · Associate Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #27 · Bachelor's Accounting and Related Services Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #67 · Bachelor's Accounting and Related Services Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #46 · Associate Precision Metal Working Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #51 · Associate Precision Metal Working Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #71 · Bachelor's Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #24 · Bachelor's Finance and Financial Management Services Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #89 · Bachelor's Business/Commerce, General Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #14 · Associate Business/Commerce, General Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #28 · Associate Business/Commerce, General Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #39 · Bachelor's Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #75 · Bachelor's Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #55 · Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #46 · Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #38 · Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #75 · Bachelor's English Language and Literature, General Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #14 · Bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #14 · Bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #90 · Bachelor's Public Health Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #96 · Bachelor's Public Health Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #70 · Bachelor's Film/Video and Photographic Arts Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #97 · Bachelor's Film/Video and Photographic Arts Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #6 · Bachelor's Film/Video and Photographic Arts Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #24 · Bachelor's Film/Video and Photographic Arts Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #46 · Bachelor's Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Programs with the Highest First-Year Earnings #91 · Bachelor's Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #94 · Bachelor's Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #82 · Bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #22 · Bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #18 · Bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings #89 · Bachelor's Civil Engineering Programs with the Highest Five-Year Earnings #6 · Bachelor's Civil Engineering Programs with the Lowest Student Debt #9 · Bachelor's Civil Engineering Programs with the Lowest Debt Relative to Earnings
Selectivity89.0%

More selective than 26% · #3 most selective of 6 in New Mexico

SAT average1011

Higher than 9%

Graduation rate55%

Higher than 51% · #2 of 10 in New Mexico

First-year retention73%

Higher than 40%

Earnings, 10 years after entry$39,067

Higher than 12% · #7 of 10 in New Mexico

Average net price$8,889

Cheaper than 93% · #3 cheapest of 10 in New Mexico

Median debt at graduation$17,095

Lower than 87%

Student–faculty ratio16 : 1

Lower than 28%

Undergraduate enrollment11,946

Larger than 91%

Percentiles compare New Mexico State University-Main Campus with the nation's 2,196 four-year colleges, among schools reporting each statistic. State ranks count four-year colleges in New Mexico.

Student body

Undergraduate vs. graduate

14,847students
  • Undergraduate11,94680%
  • Graduate2,90120%

Undergraduates by gender

11,946undergrads
  • Women6,88858%
  • Men5,05842%

Undergraduates by race / ethnicity

  • White24%
  • Black2.2%
  • Hispanic64%
  • Asian1.0%
  • Other or multiracial8.7%

Graduate gender splits aren't published in this data, so the gender chart covers undergraduates only.

By the numbers

Undergraduate enrollment
11,946
Graduate enrollment
2,901
Student–faculty ratio
16 : 1
Pell Grant recipients
38%
First-generation students
44%
Students over 25
20%
Median family income
$23,951
Avg faculty salary (academic year)
$91,782
Endowment
$88,674,297

Colleges don't publish true class-size data; student–faculty ratio (IPEDS) is the closest public measure of it.

Where students come from

Home state of the 2,391 first-year students who entered in fall 2023.

  • From New Mexico79%
  • Other U.S. states19%
  • International2.0%

Most first-years stay in state — New Mexico State University-Main Campus draws overwhelmingly from New Mexico.

2% came from outside the U.S. Out-of-state students usually pay a higher tuition rate at public schools — check the cost card above for your bracket. Source: IPEDS residence & migration, fall 2023 entering class.

Admissions

Admission rate
89.0%
Test scores
Considered but not required
SAT range (25th–75th %)
870–1110
SAT average
1011
SAT reading
450–570
SAT math
420–540
ACT composite
17–24
Average GPA (estimated)
2.92

Cost

In-state tuition
$8,183
Out-of-state tuition
$25,307
Room & board
$12,282
Books & supplies
$1,250
Total cost of attendance
$23,274
Average net price
$8,889

Net price is the total cost minus grants and scholarships — what students actually pay. It varies sharply by family income; see the breakdown below.

Outcomes

Graduated (within 6 years)
55%
Graduated on time (4 years)
34%
First-year retention
73%
Transferred to another college
0%
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$32,960
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
$39,067
Median debt at graduation
$17,095
Students with federal loans
20%
Paying down their loans (1 year in)
38%

About 21% of students who finish here need more than four years — each extra year adds roughly another year of tuition and living costs.

Graduating on time

By student background (4 years)

All students
34%
Low-income (Pell)
29%
First-generation
29%

When these bars run close together, students from every background tend to finish at similar rates — a sign the school supports the ~30% who are first-gen or low-income.

Campus life & athletics

On-campus housing
Yes
Dorm capacity
3,269
Dorm capacity vs undergrads
27%
Housing charge (year)
$6,506
Meal plan (year)
$5,520
Application fee
$25
Athletics
NCAA Division I-FBS
Football conference
Conference USA
Varsity athletes
489 (247 men · 242 women)

Housing and fees: IPEDS 2023–24. Athletics rosters: Equity in Athletics data, 2024–25. Dorm capacity can include graduate and family housing, so the share of undergrads can top 100%.

Varsity sports (11)

Football149
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)92
Baseball43
Soccer35
Swimming and Diving (combined)33
Basketball31
Volleyball27
Softball23
Golf22
Tennis20
Cross Country14

Athlete counts per sport, Equity in Athletics data, 2024–25.

Campus safety

Safety grade
C
Reported offenses per 1,000 students
4.3 / year
Violent offenses (2022–2024)
26
Property offenses (2022–2024)
175

On-campus criminal offenses reported under the Clery Act, 2022–2024, across 1 campus (15,408 students). Counts reflect reports, not convictions — schools with strong reporting cultures often show more, so a higher count doesn't simply mean a more dangerous campus.

Reported offenses in an average year

The same 2022–2024 Clery Act reports, divided down to one year.

67reported offenses a year
8.7 violent a year58 property a year

By offense type, per year

Burglary
34
Motor vehicle theft
24
Rape
4.3
Aggravated assault
2.3
Fondling
1.3
Robbery
0.7

Averages, not a forecast — a single year can run well above or below this. Bars are scaled against this campus's most-reported offense, so they compare types here rather than against other schools.

What you'll actually pay, by family income

Average net price (total cost minus grants and scholarships) paid by aided students in each family-income band.

< $30k
$6,648
$30–48k
$7,424
$48–75k
$9,861
$75–110k
$13,146
$110k+
$14,049

College Scorecard / IPEDS, most recent year. Family income is total household income; net price covers tuition, fees, room, board and supplies after grant aid, for students receiving federal aid.

Four-year (or more) true cost

Net price for your family's income, projected across the time it actually takes students here to graduate.

Est. total to a degree
$45,155

$9,861/year × about 4.6 years — most students here don't finish in exactly four, and each extra term adds cost. A planning estimate from net-price and graduation-timing data, not a bill.

Does the school pay you to attend?

Grant aid from the school's own funds — the discount off sticker, on top of any federal or state help.

73%
of first-years get a grant from the school
$8,707
average award, among those who get one

A meaningful share of freshmen — 73% — get grant money from New Mexico State University-Main Campus itself, averaging $8,707, which softens the sticker price.

Blends need-based and merit aid — IPEDS doesn't split the two, so a high number can mean generous merit scholarships, deep need-based aid, or both. Figures cover 2,292 full-time first-year undergraduates, 2022–23. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid.

Is it worth it?

A rough return-on-investment read from what graduates earn versus what they borrow.

Median earnings (10 years)
$39,067
Typical debt at graduation
$17,095
Debt vs. one year's pay
44%
Out-earn a HS grad
44%

Typical debt would take roughly 4.4 years to repay at about a tenth of median earnings.

Solid value

A reasonable return: earnings comfortably clear the debt over a few years for most students who finish.

Earnings are the College Scorecard median for former students (working, not enrolled) 10 years after entry — not a guarantee, and they vary a lot by major. Debt is the median federal loan balance at graduation.

The pay gap here

Median earnings 10 years after entry, split by gender.

Women
$34,601
Men
$44,731

Men out-earn women by $10,130 (29%) a decade out.

Federal figures for former students working and not enrolled, 10 years after they first entered. A gap this wide usually reflects which majors men and women here tend to choose — not different pay for the same job.

Campus climate

Summer high
96°F
Winter low
30°F
Annual rain
9.1″
Annual snow
1″

Average temperature

HighLow
20°70°110°JFMAMJJASOND

Average precipitation (inches)

0.00.91.8JFMAMJJASOND

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, State Univ, NM US station (0.4 mi from campus).

Median earnings of this school's own graduates 1 and 5 years after finishing each program, and median federal-loan debt at completion (College Scorecard). Small programs are privacy-suppressed (—). Click a major to compare colleges nationally.

Colleges similar to New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Schools with a comparable profile — size, selectivity, cost, and graduate outcomes. Compare New Mexico State University-Main Campus side by side →

Colleges near New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard (most recent cohorts), IPEDS institutional characteristics, Equity in Athletics (EADA) data, Clery Act Campus Safety and Security data, and NOAA US Climate Normals. Distances are straight-line from campus coordinates. Percentiles compare schools of the same level (four-year vs. two-year) that report each statistic.