NMSU-Dona Ana vs. ENMU - Ruidoso Branch Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare New Mexico State University Dona Ana in Las Cruces, NM with Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College in Ruidoso, NM on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

New Mexico State University Dona Ana is larger than ENMU - Ruidoso Branch Community College based on total student enrollment (7,200 students vs. 773 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• New Mexico State University Dona Ana is located in Las Cruces, NM (Midsize Suburban setting); Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College is in Ruidoso, NM (Remote Town setting).
• New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: New Mexico State University Dona Ana 21:1; Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College 11:1.

NMSU-Dona Ana vs. ENMU - Ruidoso Branch Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NMSU-Dona Ana or ENMU - Ruidoso Branch Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College than NMSU-Dona Ana ($4,239 vs. $7,936).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College are 46.6% lower than at New Mexico State University Dona Ana ($7,498 vs. $14,052).
• New Mexico State University Dona Ana is 50.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than ENMU - Ruidoso Branch Community College (about $914 more per year; $2,718.00 vs. $1,804.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 94.6% higher at NMSU-Dona Ana than at Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College (about $3,092 more per year; $6,360.00 vs. $3,268.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at New Mexico State University Dona Ana than at Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College (97% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Dona Ana students is 22.1% larger than aid received by Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College students ($6,571 vs. $5,383).

NMSU-Dona Ana vs. ENMU - Ruidoso Branch Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NMSU-Dona Ana or ENMU - Ruidoso Branch Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between ENMU - Ruidoso Branch Community College and NMSU-Dona Ana.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NMSU-Dona Ana - Open admission; ENMU - Ruidoso Branch Community College - Open admission.

NMSU-Dona Ana vs. ENMU - Ruidoso Branch Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NMSU-Dona Ana and ENMU - Ruidoso Branch Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from New Mexico State University Dona Ana earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than ENMU - Ruidoso Branch Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,400 vs. $33,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College graduates have a $2,851 lower median loan debt than NMSU-Dona Ana graduates ($14,267 vs. $17,118).
• Among borrowers, ENMU - Ruidoso Branch Community College graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NMSU-Dona Ana graduates ($147 vs. $176).
• More ENMU - Ruidoso Branch Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NMSU-Dona Ana students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 44%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.