NMSU-Dona Ana vs. El Paso Community College

Comparable Facts

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

El Paso Community College is larger than NMSU-Dona Ana based on total student enrollment (25,567 students vs. 7,200 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• New Mexico State University Dona Ana is located in Las Cruces, NM (Midsize Suburban setting); El Paso Community College is in El Paso, TX (Large City setting).
• New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. El Paso Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: New Mexico State University Dona Ana 21:1; El Paso Community College 21:1.

NMSU-Dona Ana vs. El Paso Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NMSU-Dona Ana or El Paso 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 El Paso Community College than NMSU-Dona Ana ($3,077 vs. $7,936).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at El Paso Community College are 27.6% lower than at New Mexico State University Dona Ana ($10,179 vs. $14,052).
• El Paso Community College is 50.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than NMSU-Dona Ana (about $1,362 more per year; $4,080.00 vs. $2,718.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.2% higher at El Paso Community College than at New Mexico State University Dona Ana (about $270 more per year; $6,630.00 vs. $6,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at New Mexico State University Dona Ana than at El Paso Community College (97% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by El Paso Community College students is 50.3% larger than aid received by New Mexico State University Dona Ana students ($9,875 vs. $6,571).

NMSU-Dona Ana vs. El Paso Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NMSU-Dona Ana or El Paso 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 El Paso 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; El Paso Community College - Open admission.

NMSU-Dona Ana vs. El Paso Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NMSU-Dona Ana and El Paso 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 $9,200 more per year than El Paso Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,400 vs. $30,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, El Paso Community College graduates have a $10,616 lower median loan debt than NMSU-Dona Ana graduates ($6,502 vs. $17,118).
• Among borrowers, El Paso Community College graduates have an estimated $109 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NMSU-Dona Ana graduates ($67 vs. $176).
• More NMSU-Dona Ana graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former El Paso Community College students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 38%)

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.