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 or
  • A nondegree 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 GPA in the application. Students can also provide an unofficial high school transcript.
  • ACT and/or SAT 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 graduate date before a final admission decision is granted. If the student also attended a non-NMSU system post-secondary institution during high school, official transcripts from each institution will also be needed. If the high school attended was outside of the United States, a professional foreign credential evaluation from a NACES company will also be 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 in order to be admitted:

  • Cumulative high school GPA of 2.75, or 
  • ACT composite score of 21 or SAT score of 1060, or
  • Ranked in the top 20 percent of their high school graduating class or
  • 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 Admission 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 ACT or SAT scores may be needed 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 who 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, in addition to any required developmental courses
  • 2.0 cumulative college GPA

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

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

Aggie Welcome and Orientation

Orientation for all new first-time and transfer students is mandatory. At NMSU's Aggie Welcome and Orientation (AWO) programs, students will attend information sessions, learn about campus resources and college life, meet with an academic advisor, and register for classes.

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

More information about Aggie Welcome and Orientation is available at https://awo.nmsu.edu/.

Nondegree- Seeking Students

How to Apply as a Nondegree 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 any veterans’ program

Transcripts from the last post-secondary institution or high school may be required 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 a written request for a change of status from non-degree to degree-seeking. 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 wants another degree from NMSU, they will need to re-apply 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 be 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
  • High school grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher
  • ACT composite of 21 or SAT score of 1060
  • For those students who have not had the opportunity to take the ACT or SAT, a PSAT score of 860 or above will be required
  • Approval from a high school counselor
  • Approval from a parent or guardian
  • Meet with an NMSU Dual Credit Academic Advisor
  • Completion of all required documentation:
    • Application for Admission
    • State Dual Credit Request Form
    • Student Acknowledgement and Parent Certification Form
    • High School Transcript and Test Scores

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. However, 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 met.

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