NMSU vs. PennWest California

Should I go to New Mexico State University Main Campus or PennWest California? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NMSU or PennWest California 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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New Mexico State University Main Campus vs. PennWest California comparison
New Mexico State University Main Campus PennWest California College 3 College 4
New Mexico State University Main Campus PennWest California
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Overview

NMSU PennWest California
Location Las Cruces, NM California, PA
Setting Midsize Suburban Town Fringe
Enrollment 14,268 6,509
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #811 #1033
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nmsu.edu calu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NMSU PennWest California
Tuition (In State) $6,283 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $23,407 $11,574
Room & Board $11,252 $10,416
Avg Net Price $10,407 -
Avg Grant Aid $13,168 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 0%

Admission

NMSU PennWest California
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,860 -
Admitted 12,378 -
Acceptance Rate 78%
Enrolled % 18.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.55 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23 18/24
SAT Range 900/1140 940/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

NMSU PennWest California
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)

Outcomes

NMSU PennWest California
Graduation Rate 46% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,400 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,118 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $176 $258

Diversity

NMSU PennWest California
% Men 42% 39%
% Women 58% 61%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 30% 77%
% Black 3% 12%
% Hispanic 55% 3%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

NMSU PennWest California
% In-State 72% 86%
% Out-of-State 25% 13%

Campus

NMSU PennWest California
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • New Mexico State University Main Campus is larger than than PennWest California based on total student enrollment (14,268 students vs. 6,509 students)

NMSU vs. PennWest California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NMSU or PennWest California?

  • PennWest California is 22.8% more expensive to attend than NMSU for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $6,283.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 102.2% higher at NMSU than PennWest California ($23,407.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 8% lower than costs at New Mexico State University Main Campus ($10,416 vs. $11,252)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at New Mexico State University Main Campus than PennWest California (95% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Main Campus students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($13,168 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at New Mexico State University Main Campus (983) is 61 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming NMSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at PennWest California (20)
  • Accepted freshman NMSU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at PennWest California (3.31)

NMSU vs. PennWest California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NMSU or PennWest California? 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 PennWest California and NMSU.

  • The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than New Mexico State University Main Campus (53% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $3,100 more per year than NMSU graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $39,400)
  • New Mexico State University Main Campus students graduate with a $7,882 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($17,118 vs. $25,000)
  • NMSU graduates are paying $82 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($176 vs. $258)
  • More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NMSU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 44%)

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