New Mexico State University-Dona Ana
A good fit for families who need the lowest possible cost and in-state New Mexico residents. graduation rate is below 25% — most students don't finish here. a public school with 5,177 students.
About This School
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is a public institution located in Las Cruces, New Mexico with approximately 5,177 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $6,048 per year. The graduation rate is 17%, and the typical graduate earns $40,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
This school is best suited for students who need an affordable, close-to-home option to begin a career-focused credential or associate degree program, particularly those in the Las Cruces area who may be working or managing family responsibilities while in school. At just $6,048 per year after aid, the cost is genuinely hard to beat, and for students pursuing vocational or technical pathways, that price can make real sense. That said, the 17% graduation rate is a serious concern — it means the majority of students who start here don't finish, which is worth understanding before enrolling, not ignoring. Median earnings of $40,300 a decade after enrollment are modest but manageable given the relatively low median debt of $17,095, so students who do complete a program aren't typically buried financially. My honest advice: if a student is motivated, has a clear program goal, and needs affordability above all else, this can work — but go in with a specific plan, connect early with an academic advisor, and treat completion as the non-negotiable priority.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 26% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana graduates earn most above the national rate in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($84,961 vs $80,813 nationally), and most below it in Precision Metal Working ($39,299 vs $56,451).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 450 | $39,985 | $44,125 | −$4,140 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 64 | $35,798 | $46,706 | −$10,908 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 50 | $68,291 | $65,389 | +$2,902 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 47 | $42,773 | $49,927 | −$7,154 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 41 | $37,514 | $37,656 | −$142 |
| Data Processing | 36 | $53,247 | $51,859 | +$1,388 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 32 | $84,961 | $80,813 | +$4,148 |
| Precision Metal Working | 11 | $39,299 | $56,451 | −$17,152 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing an associate's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (5,177 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana
2800 N. Sonoma Ranch Blvd.
Las Cruces, NM 88011
Official Links
Schools Like This in New Mexico
San Juan College
Farmington, NM · Public
Eastern New Mexico University
Portales, NM · Public
Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe, NM · Public
New Mexico Junior College
Hobbs, NM · Public
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM · Public
Western New Mexico University
Silver City, NM · Public
See How Colleges Compare
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does New Mexico State University-Dona Ana cost?
The average net price at New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is about $6,048 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at New Mexico State University-Dona Ana?
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana has a graduation rate of 17%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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