Photo: Original uploader was Camerafiend at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0New Mexico State University is 3.4 miles from Mesilla
No college sits inside Mesilla’s boundary, but New Mexico State University’s campus in Las Cruces, with 11,680 students on campus, is 3.4 miles from the center of town, and New Mexico State University-Dona Ana is 7.2 miles away in Las Cruces. About 4% of Mesilla’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Mexico (6%).
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 Mesilla. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Mesilla
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Mesilla
One private college within 4.2 miles, one public college within 3.4 miles, and New Mexico State University-Dona Ana 7.2 miles away.
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 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.
Starts at $48–75k, where Mesilla’s median household income ($74,750) falls.
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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Mesilla: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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 (4); New Mexico State University-Dona Ana (4).
Questions about college near Mesilla
Is Mesilla a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Mesilla residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New Mexico (6). The nearest campus, New Mexico State University, is 3.4 miles away in Las Cruces.
What colleges are near Mesilla?
Within 15 miles: New Mexico State University (3.4 miles, 11,680 students on campus), Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (4.2 miles, 687) and New Mexico State University-Dona Ana (7.2 miles, 4,054).
What is the closest community college to Mesilla, and what does it cost?
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana in Las Cruces, 7.2 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.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 Mesilla. 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 →