Bowie State University vs. NMSU

Should I go to Bowie State University or New Mexico State University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowie State University or NMSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bowie State University vs. New Mexico State University Main Campus comparison
Bowie State University New Mexico State University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Bowie State University New Mexico State University Main Campus
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Overview

Bowie State University NMSU
Location Bowie, MD Las Cruces, NM
Setting Large Suburban Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 6,408 14,779
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #943 #731
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu nmsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University NMSU
Tuition (In State) $5,993 $6,283
Tuition (Out of State) $16,883 $23,407
Room & Board $13,272 $12,026
Avg Net Price $16,117 $8,353
Avg Grant Aid $8,730 $15,073
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 97%

Admission

Bowie State University NMSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,245 15,201
Admitted 5,217 11,511
Acceptance Rate 83.5% 75.7%
Enrolled % 19% 20.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.55
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24
SAT Range 796/1083 885/1110
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 15, 2026

Academics

Bowie State University NMSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University NMSU
Graduation Rate 41% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $39,400
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 44%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $17,118
Median Loan Payment $252 $176

Diversity

Bowie State University NMSU
% Men 5% 7%
% Women 12% 11%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 30%
% Black 86% 3%
% Hispanic 3% 55%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Bowie State University NMSU
% In-State 78% 79%
% Out-of-State 19% 19%

Campus

Bowie State University NMSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • New Mexico State University Main Campus is larger than than Bowie State University based on total student enrollment (14,779 students vs. 6,408 students)

Bowie State University vs. NMSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowie State University or NMSU?

  • New Mexico State University Main Campus is 4.8% more expensive to attend than Bowie State University for in-state tuition ($6,283.00 vs. $5,993.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38.6% higher at NMSU than Bowie State University ($23,407.00 vs. $16,883.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New Mexico State University Main Campus than Bowie State University ($8,353 vs. $16,117)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at New Mexico State University Main Campus are 10.4% lower than costs at Bowie State University ($12,026 vs. $13,272)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at New Mexico State University Main Campus than Bowie State University (97% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Main Campus students is 72.7% larger than aid received Bowie State University ($15,073 vs. $8,730)

Bowie State University vs. NMSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bowie State University or NMSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NMSU or Bowie State University .

  • The average SAT score at New Mexico State University Main Campus (983) is 100 points higher than at Bowie State University (883)
  • Incoming NMSU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Bowie State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman NMSU students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Bowie State University (3.12)
  • Bowie State University has a higher acceptance rate (83.5%) than NMSU (75.7%)

Bowie State University vs. NMSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowie State University or NMSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NMSU and Bowie State University.

  • The graduation rate at NMSU is higher than Bowie State University (46% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $11,100 more per year than NMSU graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $39,400)
  • New Mexico State University Main Campus students graduate with a $7,273 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowie State University graduates. ($17,118 vs. $24,391)
  • NMSU graduates are paying $76 less per month on federal student loans than Bowie State University graduates. ($176 vs. $252)
  • More NMSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 29%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/