New Mexico State University-Main Campus Acceptance Rate
Las Cruces, New Mexico · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 15,201
- Admitted
- 11,511
- Yield
- 20.8%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, New Mexico State University-Main Campus's acceptance rate has risen from 69.6% in 2014–15 to 75.7% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 7,101 to 15,201 (+114%) over that period.
Its 75.7% rate makes New Mexico State University-Main Campus more selective than about 51% of the 1,419 schools tracked here.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (77.5% for women vs 72.9% for men, a 4.6-point gap). New Mexico State University-Main Campus has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 20.8% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 7,101 | 4,942 | 69.6% | 1,862 |
| 2015–16 | 7,427 | 4,884 | 65.8% | 1,993 |
| 2016–17 | 7,618 | 4,541 | 59.6% | 1,842 |
| 2017–18 | 8,192 | 5,230 | 63.8% | 2,042 |
| 2018–19 | 9,635 | 6,326 | 65.7% | 2,264 |
| 2019–20 | 11,903 | 6,497 | 54.6% | 2,178 |
| 2020–21 | 13,715 | 8,595 | 62.7% | 2,169 |
| 2021–22 | 12,535 | 7,177 | 57.3% | 2,013 |
| 2022–23 | 15,860 | 12,378 | 78% | 2,325 |
| 2023–24 | 15,201 | 11,511 | 75.7% | 2,391 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 9,258 | 7,177 | 77.5% |
| Men | 5,943 | 4,334 | 72.9% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 450–560 | 71% |
| SAT Math | 435–550 | |
| ACT Composite | 17–24 | 22% |
How New Mexico State compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is New Mexico State University-Main Campus's acceptance rate?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus's acceptance rate is 75.7% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (11,511 admitted of 15,201 applicants).
Is New Mexico State University-Main Campus test optional?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to New Mexico State University-Main Campus?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus received 15,201 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 11,511.
What SAT score do you need for New Mexico State University-Main Campus?
Admitted students at New Mexico State University-Main Campus typically scored 450–560 on SAT Reading/Writing and 435–550 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is New Mexico State University-Main Campus getting harder to get into?
New Mexico State University-Main Campus has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 69.6% in 2014–15 to 75.7% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.nmsu.edu/.