New Mexico State University-Main Campus
New Mexico State University-Main Campus — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
New Mexico State University-Main Campus at a Glance
New Mexico State University is a public, land-grant, research university in University Park, New Mexico, United States, in the Las Cruces area. Founded in 1888, it is the state's oldest public institution of higher education, and was the original land-grant university in the region. NMSU is a university system, with its main campus in Las Cruces and satellite campuses in Alamogordo, Doña Ana County, and Grants. Through the NMSU Cooperative Extension Service, it has centers or programs in all 33 …
1888
138 years old
$422M
$421.5 million (2025)
23,888
13,039 undergrad · 3,037 grad
1,806
900 acres
Identity
How to Apply to New Mexico State University-Main Campus
Official admissions page$25
Is New Mexico State University-Main Campus Worth It?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus offers moderate value at $8,889/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $39,067, which is 27% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.9 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 54% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How New Mexico State University-Main Campus compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #22 of 92 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #2 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #3 | St Petersburg College | 100 | $1,471 | $42,557 |
| #4 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #5 | South Texas College | 100 | $1,751 | $36,788 |
| #6 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #22 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus | 59 | $8,889 | $39,067 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of New Mexico State University-Main Campus's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in NM.
Best Programs at New Mexico State University-Main Campus
The highest-earning program at New Mexico State University-Main Campus is Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at $65,200/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is English Language and Literature, General at $17,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering graduate from New Mexico State University-Main Campus earns $65,200, while a English Language and Literature, General graduate earns $17,100. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering graduates carry $22,370 in median debt vs. $16,450 for English Language and Literature, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $8,889/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $65,200 | $65,200 | $22,370 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $63,700 | $63,700 | $16,362 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $61,500 | $61,500 | $17,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $59,000 | $59,000 | $19,700 |
| Civil Engineering | $55,800 | $55,800 | $14,000 |
| Engineering Technology, General | $55,400 | $55,400 | $20,125 |
| Chemical Engineering | $53,400 | $53,400 | $19,038 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $51,800 | $51,800 | $22,900 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $39,300 | $39,300 | $14,527 |
| Marketing | $38,100 | $38,100 | $20,853 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $37,100 | $37,100 | $18,750 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $35,700 | $35,700 | N/A |
| Business/Commerce, General | $34,100 | $34,100 | $19,036 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $32,100 | $32,100 | $10,196 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $31,800 | $31,800 | $21,880 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $31,100 | $31,100 | $19,953 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $29,800 | $29,800 | $13,812 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $28,200 | $28,200 | $18,888 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $27,400 | $27,400 | $21,199 |
| Sociology | $27,400 | $27,400 | $22,709 |
| Animal Sciences | $26,900 | $26,900 | $13,393 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $26,900 | $26,900 | $18,969 |
| Public Health | $25,800 | $25,800 | $26,970 |
| Social Work | $25,300 | $25,300 | $17,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $25,100 | $25,100 | $19,375 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $24,300 | $24,300 | $23,157 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $24,100 | $24,100 | $14,338 |
| Journalism | $24,000 | $24,000 | $21,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $22,200 | $22,200 | $21,000 |
| Graphic Communications | $21,700 | $21,700 | $14,150 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $20,800 | $20,800 | $19,351 |
| Psychology, General | $20,300 | $20,300 | $18,500 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $20,000 | $20,000 | $14,884 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $19,400 | $19,400 | $21,000 |
| History | $19,400 | $19,400 | $18,244 |
| Biology, General | $18,900 | $18,900 | $19,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $17,100 | $17,100 | $16,450 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Las Cruces, NM
- Student Body
- 11,946 students
- Admission Rate
- 89%
- Graduation Rate
- 54%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $8,889
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $39,067
- Median Student Debt
- $17,095