Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Graduate earnings demonstrate steady growth from $32,960 at six years to $36,423 at eight years and $39,067 at ten years after enrollment, representing 18.5% growth over the mid-career period. The trajectory reflects consistent but modest earnings advancement as graduates establish careers and gain experience in their chosen fields.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings fall below the peer average for similar institutions.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $17,095 in debt with typical earnings.
New Mexico State University students graduate with a median debt of $17,095, falling $2,905 below the peer median of $20,000 and ranking in the 82nd percentile for controlled borrowing. Debt levels range from $4,468 at the 25th percentile to $23,359 at the 75th percentile, indicating substantial variation in borrowing patterns among graduates.
New Mexico State University ranks in the 15.1st percentile for return on investment, reflecting modestly below average performance relative to educational costs. Graduates earn $10,155 less than expected based on student demographics and program characteristics, ranking in the 14.9th percentile for earnings beyond expectations.
Approximately 23.7% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study based on program mix analysis with high confidence. This rate reflects pr...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Engineering programs drive the strongest return outcomes, with Mechanical Engineering producing $91,131 median earnings and ranking #22 nationally, while Electrical and Electronics Engineering generates $86,665. Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) delivers $75,980, and Adult Health Nurse/Nursing produces $68,637 from substantial enrollment cohorts.
In contrast, General Studies ($35,854), Psychology ($34,534), and Biology ($37,093) produce earnings closer to the institutional median. The substantial earnings variation—from $34,534 to $91,131—demonstrates how program selection fundamentally shapes return on investment outcomes.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings distribution spans from $21,257 at the 25th percentile to $61,878 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.9:1 ratio that reflects substantial variation in program outcomes and career trajectories. Low-income graduates earn $36,400, demonstrating the university's effectiveness in supporting economic mobility despite overall earnings challenges.
