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UNM GCU UTEP ASU U of A Colorado State Arizona Christian University San Diego State University-Imperial Valley Campus CU Boulder Cal State East Bay Texas Tech UC Davis| Northern Arizona University | New Mexico State University Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NAU | NMSU | ||
| Location | Flagstaff, AZ | Las Cruces, NM | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 28,186 | 14,779 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #731 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nau.edu | nmsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NAU | NMSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,352 | $6,283 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,600 | $23,407 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,728 | $12,026 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,544 | $8,353 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,377 | $15,073 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 97% |
Admission |
NAU | NMSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 37,805 | 15,201 | ||
| Admitted | 34,383 | 11,511 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 90.9% | 75.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 20.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.55 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/24 | |||
| SAT Range | 885/1110 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
NAU | NMSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NAU | NMSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 52% | 46% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $43,900 | $39,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 55% | 44% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,000 | $17,118 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $206 | $176 |
Diversity |
NAU | NMSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 30% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 22% | 55% | ||
| % Native American | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
NAU | NMSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 79% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 20% | 19% | ||
Campus |
NAU | NMSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Arizona University is larger than than NMSU based on total student enrollment (28,186 students vs. 14,779 students)
NAU vs. NMSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NAU or NMSU?
- Northern Arizona University is 80.7% more expensive to attend than NMSU for in-state tuition ($11,352.00 vs. $6,283.00)
- Out of state tuition is 17.9% higher at NAU than New Mexico State University Main Campus ($27,600.00 vs. $23,407.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New Mexico State University Main Campus than NAU ($8,353 vs. $16,544)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Arizona University are 2.5% lower than costs at New Mexico State University Main Campus ($11,728 vs. $12,026)
- More students receive financial grant aid at New Mexico State University Main Campus than Northern Arizona University (97% vs. 95%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Main Campus students is 21.8% larger than aid received Northern Arizona University ($15,073 vs. $12,377)
NAU vs. NMSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NAU or NMSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NMSU or NAU .
- Accepted freshman NAU students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at NMSU (3.55)
- NAU has a higher acceptance rate (90.9%) than NMSU (75.7%)
NAU vs. NMSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NAU or NMSU? 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 NMSU and NAU.
- The graduation rate at NAU is higher than New Mexico State University Main Campus (52% vs. 46%)
- Graduates from Northern Arizona University earn on average $4,500 more per year than NMSU graduates after ten years. ($43,900 vs. $39,400)
- New Mexico State University Main Campus students graduate with a $2,882 lower median federal student loan debt than NAU graduates. ($17,118 vs. $20,000)
- NMSU graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than NAU graduates. ($176 vs. $206)
- More NAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NMSU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 44%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/