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NMSU BransonLibraryPhoto: Terry Umbenhaur · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Las Cruces

Las Cruces is home to three colleges, with about 16,000 students on campus

New Mexico State University (11,680 students on campus) and New Mexico State University-Dona Ana (4,054) are inside the city. About 12% of Las Cruces’ residents are enrolled in college, above New Mexico (6%).

New Mexico State University-Dona AnaNew Mexico State University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Las Cruces. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
16,421 students on campus
Nearest college
3.6 mi
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana
Residents in college
12%
Above NM (6%)
Nearest community college
3.6 mi
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana · $2,322 tuition
Nearest public university
3.8 mi
New Mexico State · $8,183 in-state
Median household income
$55K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Las Cruces

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 3.8 milesNew Mexico State University admits 89% of applicants. Together they have 15,734 students on campus.A community college 3.6 miles awayNew Mexico State University-Dona Ana in Las Cruces: tuition and fees $2,322 a year for New Mexico residents.In-state price at New Mexico StateLiving in New Mexico, New Mexico State University charges $8,183 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $25,307. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 12% of residentsAbove New Mexico (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Las Cruces

One private college within 4.5 miles, one public college within 3.8 miles, and New Mexico State University-Dona Ana 3.6 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miNew Mexico StateNew Mexico State University-Dona AnaLas Cruces
University or collegeCommunity college
New Mexico State University-Dona AnaCommunity college · Public · 4,054 on campus · In Las Cruces$6knet price19%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $2,322 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Earnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.New Mexico State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 11,680 on campus · In Las Cruces89%admitted$9knet price55%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Burrell College of Osteopathic MedicineUniversity or college · For-profit · 687 on campus · In Las CrucesGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Las Cruces’ median household income ($55,422) falls.

New Mexico State University-Dona AnaIn Las Cruces · sticker $14,397 · tuition $2,322$7,663a year
New Mexico State UniversityIn Las Cruces · sticker $23,274$9,861a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Las Cruces: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →New Mexico State University-Dona AnaNew Mexico State
New Mexico State University55% graduate$39k earnings*$17k typical debt
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana19% graduate$39k earnings*$17k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: New Mexico State University-Dona Ana (4); New Mexico State (4).

Majors

What students study in Las Cruces

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Las Cruces’ 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 13%Liberal arts 13%Business 11%Engineering 9%Computer science 8%Public safety 6%Everything else 40%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNew Mexico State University-Dona Ana · 450 graduates a year
$40k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingNew Mexico State University · 182 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsNew Mexico State University · 152 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNew Mexico State University · 141 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Mechanical EngineeringNew Mexico State University · 122 graduates a year
$86k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralNew Mexico State University · 104 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralNew Mexico State University · 99 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsNew Mexico State University · 92 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Las Cruces

Is Las Cruces a college town?

No. About 12 of every 100 Las Cruces residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above New Mexico (6). The largest campus in the city, New Mexico State University, has 11,680 students on campus.

What colleges are in Las Cruces?

New Mexico State University, New Mexico State University-Dona Ana and Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Las Cruces, and what does it cost?

New Mexico State University-Dona Ana in Las Cruces, 3.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,322 a year for New Mexico residents; the federal net price, $6,048, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does New Mexico State University cost if we live in New Mexico?

Tuition and fees are $8,183 a year in-state and $25,307 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,648 (under $30,000 income) to $14,049 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Las Cruces. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →