NMSU-Dona Ana vs. Mesalands Community College

Comparable Facts

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

New Mexico State University Dona Ana is larger than Mesalands Community College based on total student enrollment (7,200 students vs. 563 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• New Mexico State University Dona Ana is located in Las Cruces, NM (Midsize Suburban setting); Mesalands Community College is in Tucumcari, NM (Remote Town setting).
• New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Mesalands Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: New Mexico State University Dona Ana 21:1; Mesalands Community College 12:1.

NMSU-Dona Ana vs. Mesalands Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NMSU-Dona Ana or Mesalands 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 New Mexico State University Dona Ana than Mesalands Community College ($7,936 vs. $8,864).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mesalands Community College are 34.4% lower than at New Mexico State University Dona Ana ($9,224 vs. $14,052).
• New Mexico State University Dona Ana is 27.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mesalands Community College (about $582 more per year; $2,718.00 vs. $2,136.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 86.6% higher at NMSU-Dona Ana than at Mesalands Community College (about $2,952 more per year; $6,360.00 vs. $3,408.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at New Mexico State University Dona Ana than at Mesalands Community College (97% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Dona Ana students is 2% larger than aid received by Mesalands Community College students ($6,571 vs. $6,443).

NMSU-Dona Ana vs. Mesalands Community College Admissions comparison

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

NMSU-Dona Ana vs. Mesalands Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NMSU-Dona Ana and Mesalands 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 $11,400 more per year than Mesalands Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,400 vs. $28,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.