NMSU vs. USW

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

 NMSU USW
Location Las Cruces, NM Hobbs, NM
Setting Midsize Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 14,779 1,034
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #731
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nmsu.edu usw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 NMSU USW
Tuition (In State) $6,283 $16,470
Tuition (Out of State) $23,407 $16,470
Room & Board $12,026 $8,000
Avg Net Price $8,353 $20,438
Avg Grant Aid $15,073 $9,786
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 97%

Admission

 NMSU USW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,201 -
Admitted 11,511 -
Acceptance Rate 75.7% Open
Enrolled % 20.8% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.55 2.63
Typical High School Grades B+ C+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24
SAT Range 885/1110
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 NMSU USW
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 21:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Education (29%)
  • Psychology (17%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (5%)

Outcomes

 NMSU USW
Graduation Rate 46% 18%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,400 $45,700
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,118 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $176 $242

Diversity

 NMSU USW
% Men 7% 18%
% Women 11% 49%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 30% 12%
% Black 3% 14%
% Hispanic 55% 47%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 5% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 26%

Students

 NMSU USW
% In-State 79% 48%
% Out-of-State 19% 48%

Campus

 NMSU USW
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 USW based on total student enrollment (14,779 students vs. 1,034 students)

NMSU vs. USW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NMSU or USW?

  • University of the Southwest is 162.1% more expensive to attend than NMSU for in-state tuition ($16,470.00 vs. $6,283.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 42.1% higher at NMSU than University of the Southwest ($23,407.00 vs. $16,470.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New Mexico State University Main Campus than USW ($8,353 vs. $20,438)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the Southwest are 50.3% lower than costs at New Mexico State University Main Campus ($8,000 vs. $12,026)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at New Mexico State University Main Campus as University of the Southwest (97% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Main Campus students is 54% larger than aid received University of the Southwest ($15,073 vs. $9,786)

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

  • Accepted freshman NMSU students have a 0.92 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at USW (2.63)

NMSU vs. USW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at NMSU is higher than University of the Southwest (46% vs. 18%)
  • Graduates from University of the Southwest earn on average $6,300 more per year than NMSU graduates after ten years. ($45,700 vs. $39,400)
  • New Mexico State University Main Campus students graduate with a $6,382 lower median federal student loan debt than USW graduates. ($17,118 vs. $23,500)
  • NMSU graduates are paying $66 less per month on federal student loans than USW graduates. ($176 vs. $242)
  • More USW 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/