New Mexico State University-Main Campus
#5 Best Master's Programs in New Mexico- Graduation Rate
- 54% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $39,067 C-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $8,889 B+
- 48% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 89% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 27.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $27.0 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Master's Programs in New Mexico.
Every $1 spent returns $27.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $925,529.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $27.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why New Mexico State University Matters
New Mexico State University-Main Campus is a public research university in Las Cruces, NM and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 11,946
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Engineering, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose New Mexico State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 89% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 870–1110. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $8,889 a year after grants and scholarships — 48% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $39,067 ten years after enrolling — 4% below the typical college, against $17,095 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.91 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
New Mexico State University-Main Campus is a good fit for students looking for a broad range of study options in a welcoming environment. With an acceptance rate of 89%, it provides opportunities for many who want to pursue higher education. Students here often dive into popular programs like Business & Marketing, Engineering, Health Professions, Humanities, and Computer Science & IT. That variety means we can find something for just about everyone's interests and career goals.
Looking at life after graduation, we see that the average earnings for alumni after ten years is around $39,067. This gives us a decent sense of what to expect in terms of financial stability. While the graduation rate sits at 54%, it indicates that some students may face challenges in completing their degrees. However, those who do graduate can often find solid employment in their fields, especially in areas like engineering and health professions. Affordability is a key factor here, making it easier for students from different backgrounds to attend.
The practicalities of attending NMSU are pretty manageable. The net price after aid is just $8,889, which is quite reasonable compared to many other institutions. Plus, the median debt for graduates is $17,095, suggesting that students can graduate without being overwhelmed by financial burdens. Those who tend to thrive here are often self-motivated and eager to engage with their studies and campus life, making the most of the opportunities available.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective New Mexico State University-Main Campus is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into New Mexico State University-Main Campus? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Las Cruces, New Mexico, New Mexico State University-Main Campus admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,011. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Retention Rate
- 73%
- SAT Average
- 1011
- ACT Midpoint
- 20
- SAT Range
- 870–1110
- ACT Range
- 17–24
- Full-Time Faculty
- 75%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,198
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.53
- First-Gen Students
- 44%
- Applicants
- 15,860
- Admitted
- 12,378
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend New Mexico State University-Main Campus? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at New Mexico State University-Main Campus is $25,307, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,889. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,648 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,095 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,183
- Out-of-State
- $25,307
- Avg Net Price
- $8,889
- Median Debt
- $17,095
- Pell Grant Rate
- 38%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 20%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,648
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,424
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,861
- Family Income $110K+
- $14,049
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at New Mexico State University-Main Campus — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is New Mexico State University-Main Campus Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of New Mexico State University-Main Campus report median earnings of $39,067, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,960
- 8 Years
- $36,423
- 10 Years
- $39,067
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.44x
- Earning > $25K
- 49%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (488)
- 26%
- 100% (488)
- 26%
- 100% (488)
- 26%
- 100% (488)
- 26%
How New Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is New Mexico State University-Main Campus Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, New Mexico State University-Main Campus delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,889/year ($35,556 total). Graduates earn $39,067 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $961,085 in total earnings — a net gain of $925,529 (27.0× your investment). The median debt is $17,095, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 54% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $35,556
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $961,085
- Net Return
- $925,529
- ROI Multiple
- 27.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,889
- Median Debt
- $17,095
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 54%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields New Mexico State University-Main Campus awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Engineering 13% $87,493 early-career
- Business & Marketing 12% $48,544 early-career
- Health Professions 9% $74,124 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $65,959 early-career
- Criminal Justice 6% $34,625 early-career
- Humanities 6% $36,132 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $23,930 early-career
- Psychology 6% $27,793 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for New Mexico State University-Main Campus's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into New Mexico State University-Main Campus? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Las Cruces, New Mexico, New Mexico State University-Main Campus admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,011. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend New Mexico State University-Main Campus? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at New Mexico State University-Main Campus is $25,307, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,889. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,648 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,095 in federal student loans.
Is New Mexico State University-Main Campus Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of New Mexico State University-Main Campus report median earnings of $39,067, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is New Mexico State University-Main Campus? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at New Mexico State University-Main Campus. Its economic connectedness score is 0.91, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to New Mexico State University-Main Campus.
- Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY · Close peer55% grad $43,889 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, AR · Close peer55% grad $42,617 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond, KY · Close peer50% grad $45,795 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Louisiana at LafayetteLafayette, LA · Close peer52% grad $47,089 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Youngstown State UniversityYoungstown, OH · Close peer52% grad $41,544 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro, NC · Close peer57% grad $48,160 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is New Mexico State University-Main Campus? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at New Mexico State University-Main Campus. Its economic connectedness score is 0.91, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note