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Las Vegas, NM · Las Cruces, NM
| New Mexico Highlands University | New Mexico State University-Main Campus | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $14,838/yr | $8,889/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $13,511/yr | $6,648/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $11,399 | $17,095 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $13,947/yr | $7,424/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $15,175/yr | $9,861/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $16,508/yr | $13,146/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $16,530/yr | $14,049/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $121/mo | $181/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $10,116/yr | $12,282/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,284/yr | $14,052/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,158/yr | $1,250/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,808/yr | $4,536/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $20,868/yr | $23,274/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $7,416/yr | $8,183/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $12,336/yr | $25,307/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 45% | 38% |
| Students taking federal loans | 18% | 20% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | No data reported | 89% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 870–1110 |
| SAT average | No data reported | 1011 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 17–24 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | No data reported | English 15–24 · Math 16–23 |
| Admissions data from | No data reported | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | No data reported | 15,201 |
| Students accepted | No data reported | 11,511 |
| Students who enrolled | No data reported | 2,391 |
| Accepted students who enroll | No data reported | 21% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | No data reported | 71% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | No data reported | 22% |
| High-school GPA | No data reported | Required |
| High-school transcript | No data reported | Required |
| Essay | No data reported | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | No data reported | Not considered |
| Class rank | No data reported | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | No data reported | Not considered |
| Demonstrated competencies | No data reported | Not considered |
| Work experience | No data reported | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | No data reported | Required |
| Other admission tests | No data reported | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | No data reported | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Open admission (everyone qualified gets in) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 26% | 55% |
| Freshmen who come back | 50% | 73% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $45,937/yr | $39,067/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $26,406–$62,983 | $21,257–$61,878 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 47% | 54% |
| White students graduating | 21% | 61% |
| Black students graduating | 3.9% | 43% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 34% | 54% |
| Asian students graduating | No data reported | 58% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $38,952/yr | $32,960/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 67% | 60% |
| Graduate on time | 3.9% | 34% |
| Pell students who graduate | 26% | 50% |
| First-gen students who finish | 42% | 30% |
| Low-income students who finish | 42% | 28% |
| Students who transfer out | 25% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $40,392/yr | $36,423/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 29% · Education 27% · Business, Management & Marketing 18% | Engineering 13% · Business, Management & Marketing 12% · Health Professions 9% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 29% of degrees | Engineering — 13% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Education — 27% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 12% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees | Health Professions — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 6% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 4% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $88,137/yr | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering — $82,790/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 4.3% | 29% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,451 | 11,946 |
| Students per professor | 10 : 1 | 16 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,101 | 2,901 |
| Average professor pay | $5,823/mo | $10,198/mo |
| Full-time professors | 78% | 75% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $24,029 | $23,951 |
| Setting | Town (remote) | Suburb (midsize) |
| Location | Las Vegas, NM | Las Cruces, NM |
| Region | Southwest | Southwest |
| Founded | 1893 | 1888 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3% | 2.5% |
| Men | 38% | 42% |
| Women | 62% | 58% |
| White students | 17% | 24% |
| Black students | 4.6% | 2.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 61% | 64% |
| Asian students | 0.3% | 1% |
| Two or more races | 2.9% | 3% |
| Other / not reported | 11% | 3.3% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 45% | 44% |
| Part-time students | 36% | 15% |
| Students age 25+ | 41% | 20% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $11,748/yr | $12,132/yr |
| Endowment | $13.2M | $88.7M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 518 | 3,269 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $4,914/yr | $6,506/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $4,760/yr | $5,520/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 21 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | Land-grant institution |
| Study abroad | No | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | No | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | No | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | No |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II with football | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 10 | 14 |
| Student athletes | 283 | 441 |
| Athletic scholarships | $1.9M | $8.8M |
| Athletics budget | $6.8M | $37.1M |
| Athletics revenue | $6.8M | $37.1M |
| Recruiting spend | $62,386 | $697,435 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.