NMSU vs. Cleveland State

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

 NMSU Cleveland State
Location Las Cruces, NM Cleveland, OH
Setting Midsize Suburban Large City
Enrollment 14,779 14,117
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #731 #780
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nmsu.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 NMSU Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $6,283 $12,503
Tuition (Out of State) $23,407 $17,863
Room & Board $12,026 $14,760
Avg Net Price $8,353 $16,307
Avg Grant Aid $15,073 $10,148
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 88%

Admission

 NMSU Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,201 10,274
Admitted 11,511 9,810
Acceptance Rate 75.7% 95.5%
Enrolled % 20.8% 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.55 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 18/25
SAT Range 885/1110 880/1130
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 NMSU Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 NMSU Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 46% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,400 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,118 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $176 $222

Diversity

 NMSU Cleveland State
% Men 7% 15%
% Women 11% 18%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 30% 64%
% Black 3% 17%
% Hispanic 55% 5%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 5% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 NMSU Cleveland State
% In-State 79% 85%
% Out-of-State 19% 7%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • New Mexico State University Main Campus is larger than than Cleveland State based on total student enrollment (14,779 students vs. 14,117 students)

NMSU vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NMSU or Cleveland State?

  • Cleveland State University is 99% more expensive to attend than NMSU for in-state tuition ($12,503.00 vs. $6,283.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31% higher at NMSU than Cleveland State University ($23,407.00 vs. $17,863.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New Mexico State University Main Campus than Cleveland State ($8,353 vs. $16,307)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at New Mexico State University Main Campus are 22.7% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($12,026 vs. $14,760)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at New Mexico State University Main Campus than Cleveland State University (97% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Main Campus students is 48.5% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($15,073 vs. $10,148)

NMSU vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cleveland State University (1028) is 45 points higher than at NMSU (983)
  • Incoming Cleveland State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at NMSU (21)
  • Accepted freshman NMSU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than NMSU (75.7%)

NMSU vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NMSU or Cleveland State? 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 Cleveland State and NMSU.

  • The graduation rate at NMSU is higher than Cleveland State University (46% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $4,800 more per year than NMSU graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $39,400)
  • New Mexico State University Main Campus students graduate with a $4,382 lower median federal student loan debt than Cleveland State graduates. ($17,118 vs. $21,500)
  • NMSU graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Cleveland State graduates. ($176 vs. $222)
  • More Cleveland State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NMSU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 44%)

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