New Mexico State University-Main Campus (NMSU) vs University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)

New Mexico State University-Main Campus and University of Alaska Fairbanks, both public research universities, offer distinct educational experiences. NMSU-Main boasts a higher acceptance rate (88%) compared to UAF's (79%), making it a more accessible option. UAF, however, has a slightly higher graduation rate (49% vs. 46%). While NMSU-Main excels in engineering, education, and nursing, UAF shines in engineering, biological sciences, and social sciences. NMSU-Main's student body is more diverse, with a higher percentage of Hispanic students, while UAF's student body is predominantly White. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
New Mexico State University-Main Campus logo

New Mexico State University-Main Campus

University of Alaska Fairbanks logo

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Overview

Location Las Cruces, New Mexico Fairbanks, Alaska
Campus setting Suburb: Midsize Suburb: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 72.0% 68.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 57.3% 64.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $40
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $75
SAT range 920 - 1140 1110 - 1360
ACT range 17 - 23 17 - 27
Students submitting SAT score 36.0% 12.0%
Students submitting ACT score 33.0% 16.0%
Total number of applicants 12,535 1,402
Total number of admissions given out 7,177 907
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,013 678
Yield rate 28.0% 74.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $22,010

Out of state: $38,476
In state: $25,548

Out of state: $39,684
Average net price $11,397 $9,379
Tuition
In state: $6,041

Out of state: $22,507
In state: $5,616

Out of state: $19,200
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,507

Meal plan: $4,900
Room/dormitory: $5,150

Meal plan: $5,390
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

98.0%
Average amount $11,518
90.0%
Average amount $8,808
Students receiving federal student loan 30.0%
Average amount $3,491
21.0%
Average amount $5,312
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $10,115
2.0%
Average amount $13,596

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 11,231
Men 41.9% Women 58.1%
5,844
Men 38.4% Women 61.6%
Graduate students 2,673
Men 38.9% Women 61.1%
982
Men 38.7% Women 61.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 29.0% 17.1%
International students 5.1% 2.4%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Midsize Suburb: Small
Dormitory capacity 3,384 1,554
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New Mexico Texas Arizona California Colorado Alaska Washington California Oregon Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Agriculture
  • Business
  • Education
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 50.4% 38.4%
Dropout rate 45.8% 39.6%
Transferred out N/A 18.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Industrial Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,572
  • Year 2: $82,440
  • Year 3: $90,002
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,582
  • Year 2: $61,814
  • Year 3: $80,221
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $71,575
  • Year 3: $79,616
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,000
  • Year 2: $73,635
  • Year 3: $74,617
Engineering Technology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,548
  • Year 2: $59,253
  • Year 3: $71,978
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,906
  • Year 2: $62,343
  • Year 3: $70,303
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,738
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $69,035
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,124
  • Year 2: $55,512
  • Year 3: $66,230
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,682
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $64,455
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,638
  • Year 2: $57,860
  • Year 3: $63,843
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $75,889
  • Year 3: $89,097
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,843
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $79,303
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,735
  • Year 2: $68,219
  • Year 3: $73,558
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $62,935
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,188
  • Year 2: $43,798
  • Year 3: $53,812
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,355
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: $44,672
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $33,666
  • Year 2: $44,942
  • Year 3: $43,923
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,119
  • Year 3: $34,458
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,635
  • Year 2: $31,314
  • Year 3: $32,564
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,241
  • Year 2: $26,739
  • Year 3: $32,435