NMSU vs. MSU

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

 NMSU MSU
Location Las Cruces, NM Minot, ND
Setting Midsize Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 14,268 2,777
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #811 #726
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nmsu.edu minotstateu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 NMSU MSU
Tuition (In State) $6,283 $7,168
Tuition (Out of State) $23,407 $7,168
Room & Board $11,252 $7,180
Avg Net Price $10,407 $12,360
Avg Grant Aid $13,168 $5,542
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 91%

Admission

 NMSU MSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,860 498
Admitted 12,378 464
Acceptance Rate 78% 93.2%
Enrolled % 18.8% 81.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.55 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23 17/22
SAT Range 900/1140 992/1178
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 Jun 30, 2025

Academics

 NMSU MSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)

Outcomes

 NMSU MSU
Graduation Rate 46% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,400 $45,200
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,118 $18,725
Median Loan Payment $176 $193

Diversity

 NMSU MSU
% Men 42% 35%
% Women 58% 65%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 30% 67%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 55% 6%
% Native American 2% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 5% 13%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 NMSU MSU
% In-State 72% 72%
% Out-of-State 25% 21%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • New Mexico State University Main Campus is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (14,268 students vs. 2,777 students)

NMSU vs. MSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NMSU or MSU?

  • Minot State University is 14.1% more expensive to attend than NMSU for in-state tuition ($7,168.00 vs. $6,283.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 226.5% higher at NMSU than Minot State University ($23,407.00 vs. $7,168.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New Mexico State University Main Campus than MSU ($10,407 vs. $12,360)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minot State University are 56.7% lower than costs at New Mexico State University Main Campus ($7,180 vs. $11,252)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at New Mexico State University Main Campus than Minot State University (95% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Main Campus students is 137.6% larger than aid received Minot State University ($13,168 vs. $5,542)

NMSU vs. MSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Minot State University (999) is 16 points higher than at NMSU (983)
  • Incoming MSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at NMSU (21)
  • Accepted freshman NMSU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at MSU (3.42)
  • MSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) than NMSU (78%)

NMSU vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NMSU or MSU? 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 MSU and NMSU.

  • The graduation rate at NMSU is higher than Minot State University (46% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Minot State University earn on average $5,800 more per year than NMSU graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $39,400)
  • New Mexico State University Main Campus students graduate with a $1,607 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($17,118 vs. $18,725)
  • NMSU graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($176 vs. $193)
  • More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NMSU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 44%)

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