NMSU vs. NSU

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

NMSU NSU
Location Las Cruces, NM Norfolk, VA
Setting Midsize Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 14,779 6,045
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #731 #999
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nmsu.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NMSU NSU
Tuition (In State) $6,283 $5,926
Tuition (Out of State) $23,407 $17,428
Room & Board $12,026 $11,692
Avg Net Price $8,353 $12,272
Avg Grant Aid $15,073 $11,153
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 97%

Admission

NMSU NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,201 10,211
Admitted 11,511 8,931
Acceptance Rate 75.7% 87.5%
Enrolled % 20.8% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.55 2.9
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 16/21
SAT Range 885/1110 840/1100
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 May 31, 2026

Academics

NMSU NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

NMSU NSU
Graduation Rate 46% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,400 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,118 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $176 $320

Diversity

NMSU NSU
% Men 7% 3%
% Women 11% 5%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 30% 5%
% Black 3% 84%
% Hispanic 55% 3%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 5% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

NMSU NSU
% In-State 79% 65%
% Out-of-State 19% 31%

Campus

NMSU NSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
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 NSU based on total student enrollment (14,779 students vs. 6,045 students)

NMSU vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NMSU or NSU?

  • New Mexico State University Main Campus is 6% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($6,283.00 vs. $5,926.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.3% higher at NMSU than Norfolk State University ($23,407.00 vs. $17,428.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New Mexico State University Main Campus than NSU ($8,353 vs. $12,272)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 2.9% lower than costs at New Mexico State University Main Campus ($11,692 vs. $12,026)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at New Mexico State University Main Campus as Norfolk State University (97% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Main Campus students is 35.1% larger than aid received Norfolk State University ($15,073 vs. $11,153)

NMSU vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at New Mexico State University Main Campus (983) is 175 points higher than at NSU (808)
  • Incoming NMSU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at NSU (17)
  • Accepted freshman NMSU students have a 0.65 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than NMSU (75.7%)

NMSU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at NMSU is higher than Norfolk State University (46% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from New Mexico State University Main Campus earn on average $2,700 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($39,400 vs. $36,700)
  • New Mexico State University Main Campus students graduate with a $13,882 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($17,118 vs. $31,000)
  • NMSU graduates are paying $144 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($176 vs. $320)
  • More NMSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 27%)

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