Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation

Contact Information

Undergraduate Admissions
MSC 3A
New Mexico State University
P.O. Box 30001
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
(575) 646-3121
https://admissions.nmsu.edu/

Under the policies and conditions set forth below, a student may be accepted for undergraduate admission to NMSU as either:

  • A degree-seeking student
  • A non-degree student


     

Degree-Seeking Students

How to Apply as a First-Time Student

Requirements for admission as a degree-seeking student: 

  • Application for admission, accompanied by a one-time $25 nonrefundable application fee 
  • Students are required to self-report their high school cumulative grade point average (GPA) on the application. Students can also provide an unofficial high school transcript.
  • SAT and/or ACT scores are optional for admission. However, the scores provided will be used for scholarship consideration and for Math and English placement. 

All applicants with tentative admission must submit a final, official high school transcript showing a graduation date before a final admission decision is granted. If the student also attended a non-NMSU system post-secondary institution during high school (dual credit/concurrent enrollment), official transcripts from each institution are required. If the institution attended was outside of the United States, a professional foreign credential evaluation from a NACES company is required.

Freshman Admission Requirements 

Students who meet the minimum high school course requirements of the state from which they receive their high school diploma must meet one of the following criteria to be admitted: 

  • Cumulative high school GPA of 2.75 
  • SAT score of 1060 or ACT composite score of 21  
  • Ranked in the top 20 percent of their high school graduating class
  • A GED cumulative score of 480 or HiSET cumulative score of 45 

Applicants who meet at least one of the above criteria will be admitted to NMSU. An applicant who does not meet admission requirements may be admitted if a review of additional academic information indicates that the student would be successful at NMSU. When reviewing the admissibility of students, Undergraduate Admissions considers many factors, including high school GPA, test scores, dual-credit coursework, leadership experience, community involvement, and other accomplishments. Applicants may be asked for additional information, including a personal statement, to support their application. 

Note for students about scholarships: Although home school students only need to submit a high school transcript for admission to NMSU, a New Mexico GED or HiSET may be required to be eligible for state-funded scholarships. Similarly, the SAT or ACT scores are required for out-of-state students for competitive scholarships.

More information about scholarships is available at https://fa.nmsu.edu/scholarships

Aggie Pathway

In the Aggie Pathway program, the NMSU system works together to assist students who do not meet the admission requirements to the university or choose to start at one of the system's community colleges.  

Aggie Pathway students begin at one of NMSU's community college campuses. They may transition to the university campus upon meeting the following requirements: 

  • Successful completion of 24 credits 
  • 2.0 cumulative college GPA

Students enrolling through NMSU Doña Ana Community College campus also have access to NMSU Las Cruces campus housing and dining. 

More information about Aggie Pathway is available at https://aggiepathway.nmsu.edu/.

New Student Orientation

Orientation is mandatory for all new first-time and transfer students seeking their first bachelor’s degree. During NMSU's New Student Orientation (NSO), students attend information sessions, learn about campus resources and college life, meet with an Academic Advisor, and register for classes. 

If students have taken the SAT or ACT, they must submit official scores before attending an NSO program, as these scores are used to place students into courses during academic advising. If test scores are unavailable, students will be asked to take the Math Placement Exam and English Placement Questionnaire before orientation. 

More information about New Student Orientation is available at https://awo.nmsu.edu/. 

Non-degree Seeking Students 

How to Apply as a Non-degree Seeking Student

Non-degree admission is designed to meet the needs of students who do not wish to pursue a degree at NMSU. Courses taken in this status may not be used to meet university admission requirements. Students interested in using non-degree credit for initial teacher certification or certification in a new field must contact the College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation. 

Non-degree students are ineligible to: 

  • Receive financial aid or student employment 
  • Participate in student government or intercollegiate athletics 
  • Receive benefits from military, veteran, and dependent financial assistance programs.  

Transcripts may be required for non-degree seeking students who have not completed a bachelor’s degree to assure readiness for university-level courses. A $25 one-time, nonrefundable application fee is required. 

Non-degree students are subject to the same university regulations as degree-seeking students. 

Changing from Nondegree Status 

A non-degree student in good academic standing at NMSU must submit an application for admission as a degree-seeking student. Requirements for regular admission must be met. Non-degree students may not transfer more than 30 credits from this status to any undergraduate degree program except for students participating in a high school concurrent enrollment program. If a student has graduated from NMSU, they will automatically be switched to a non-degree status. If that student intends to pursue another degree from NMSU, they will need to submit an application for admission as a degree-seeking student. 

How to Apply for Readmission 

Former students of the NMSU system, who have been out of school for more than two consecutive semesters, are required to apply for readmission. Applications should be submitted to Undergraduate Admissions before the start date of the semester for which the student plans to enroll. 

A student who has attended other post-secondary institutions during an absence must have official transcripts from those other post-secondary institutions sent directly to Undergraduate Admissions. They must be eligible to return to the institution they last attended. Transcripts must be received before the date of registration. Academic standing at the time of readmission will generally be determined by previous NMSU academic standing. However, academic performance at other institutions attended during the applicant's absence from NMSU may be considered when determining the student's admission status. 

Opportunities for High Schools Students

Dual Credit for High School Students

The Dual Credit program is designed to give high school students an opportunity to enroll at NMSU before high school graduation. A student must be either a junior or senior in high school and enrolled at least half-time in high school courses. Under a Statewide Dual Credit Master Agreement between NMSU and the school district, students enrolled in approved dual credit courses are eligible to have the total cost of tuition and general fees waived. 

Eligibility Requirements 
  • High school junior or senior enrolled at least half-time at their high school 
  • High School cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0, or 3.2 if student has not taken the PSAT, ACT or SAT.  → More Details 
  • ACT composite score of 21 or SAT total score of 1060 
  • If you have not taken the ACT or SAT, the first semester requirements may be met with a qualifying PSAT score of 860 or above. Continued enrollment in the program will be based on successful progress or completion of your first dual credit course and high school GPA. 
  • Obtain approval from high school guidance counselor 
  • Obtain approval from parent or guardian 
 
Enrollment Process 

  • Completion of required documentation  

  • Meet with an NMSU Dual Credit Advisor 

  • Attend Dual Credit Orientation before the first day of class (first semester only) 

See Dual Credit for details and required paperwork to get started.
https://dualcredit.nmsu.edu/how-to-apply.html 
 

Out-of-State Students and Legal Jurisdiction

By applying for admission/enrollment, both the student and parents agree that New Mexico law prevails, and all litigation will be in federal or state court in New Mexico.

Applying for Admission

Application Materials

All documents submitted as part of the official admissions process become the property of NMSU and will not be returned to the student. Application materials are retained for one calendar year for students who apply but do not attend.

Application Deadlines

NMSU's priority deadline for completing the entire admission process is the Friday before the first day of class each semester. Completing the admission process includes, but is not limited to:

  • Completing an admission application
  • Submitting all official documents
  • Receiving an admission decision
  • Completing orientation (if required)
  • Taking placement exams
  • Enrolling in courses

Completing all the above steps requires multiple business days; NMSU encourages all interested students to plan accordingly. In addition, international applicants have additional steps to complete and earlier deadlines related to visa timelines. Moreover, some academic programs have specific application deadlines that students must meet.

The deadline to apply for NMSU's Nursing program is February 1st for the fall semester and September 1st for the spring semester.