The Organ Mountains fill the eastern skyline over New Mexico State University's main campus in Las Cruces. Founded in 1888, NMSU is the state's land-grant university and a Hispanic-Serving Institution, about an hour from El Paso. Engineering and agriculture are its traditional strengths. Aerospace work at White Sands and Spaceport America gives students unusual internship options.
Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
Official website: nmsu.edu
1888
Public land-grant university
Hispanic-Serving Institution
Las Cruces, near the Organ Mountains
$22,000 – $27,000
International students, undergraduate and graduate
$11,000 – $14,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on nmsu.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Industrial Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Aerospace Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
BS Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
Engineering with links to White Sands and Spaceport America.
Agriculture research across farms and ranges in southern New Mexico.
Low living costs in a sunny desert city.
Engineering graduates join aerospace, defence and energy employers across the Southwest.
White Sands Missile Range and NASA's White Sands Test Facility are nearby.
STEM master's graduates can apply for up to three years of OPT.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
The campus is on the south side of Las Cruces, with adobe-style buildings and views of the Organ Mountains. Old Mesilla's plaza is a short drive west.
It's a desert city with over 300 sunny days a year and low rent. El Paso's airport is about an hour south.
Form I-20 issued by New Mexico State University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
NMSU reviews international applications on a rolling basis. Apply by about June for fall and October for spring to leave time for the I-20 and visa appointment.
Students start in August for fall or January for spring. Some programmes also run summer sessions.
You'll need an F-1 visa. Once you accept your offer and send proof of funding, New Mexico State University issues the Form I-20. After that it's the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical and industrial engineering, aerospace engineering and hospitality management are popular. Graduate programmes need a relevant bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 79; undergraduates need school transcripts and IELTS 6.0.
NMSU offers merit scholarships to international undergraduates, and graduate students can apply for assistantships through their department. Check the current awards when you apply.
