NAU vs. NMSU

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

NAU NMSU
Location Flagstaff, AZ Las Cruces, NM
Setting Small City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 28,086 14,268
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #811
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nau.edu nmsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NAU NMSU
Tuition (In State) $11,024 $6,283
Tuition (Out of State) $26,286 $23,407
Room & Board $11,728 $11,252
Avg Net Price $17,115 $10,407
Avg Grant Aid $11,865 $13,168
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 95%

Admission

NAU NMSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 44,855 15,860
Admitted 35,881 12,378
Acceptance Rate 80% 78%
Enrolled % 15.5% 18.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.55
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 900/1140
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, 2025

Academics

NAU NMSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

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 37% 42%
% Women 63% 58%
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 73% 72%
% Out-of-State 26% 25%

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 (28,086 students vs. 14,268 students)

NAU vs. NMSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NAU or NMSU?

  • Northern Arizona University is 75.5% more expensive to attend than NMSU for in-state tuition ($11,024.00 vs. $6,283.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.3% higher at NAU than New Mexico State University Main Campus ($26,286.00 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 ($10,407 vs. $17,115)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at New Mexico State University Main Campus are 4.2% lower than costs at Northern Arizona University ($11,252 vs. $11,728)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Arizona University than New Mexico State University Main Campus (100% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Main Campus students is 11% larger than aid received Northern Arizona University ($13,168 vs. $11,865)

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 (80%) than NMSU (78%)

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/