The University of New Mexico is the state's flagship public research university, in Albuquerque. It is best known for engineering, computer science, medicine, Latin American studies and the sciences, with Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories as research partners. Choose it for an affordable research degree with national-lab access in the high desert.
Albuquerque, United States
Official website: unm.edu
#791
R1 — very high research activity
Research partner of Sandia and Los Alamos
Among the lowest non-resident rates of any US flagship university
$22,000 – $28,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$12,000 – $16,000
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 unm.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Mechanical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA (Anderson School of Management)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Optical Science and Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories — research partners and major employers of graduates.
Pueblo Revival campus — adobe-style architecture unique among US universities.
Optical science — a strong programme in a state with a large photonics industry.
Albuquerque — high desert, 300 days of sun and the Sandia Mountains behind the city.
Graduates join Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos, Intel's Rio Rancho plant, Netflix's Albuquerque studios and Kirtland Air Force Base contractors.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Engineering bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries around USD 65,000-75,000.
Anderson MBA graduates move into management roles in New Mexico and the south-west.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 600-acre main campus lies east of downtown Albuquerque, with adobe-style buildings around a central duck pond, the engineering complex to the south and the medical campus to the north.
Albuquerque is a high-desert city of about 560,000 people with low rent, dry sunny weather and the Sandia Mountains for hiking and skiing. Santa Fe is an hour away.
Form I-20 issued by UNM
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
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with international applicants advised to apply by 1 April 2027 for fall 2027 and 1 September 2026 for spring 2027 to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering and computer science master's closing between January and April.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August), spring (January) or summer (June). Most master's programmes, including computer science, engineering, optical science and the Anderson MBA, admit for both fall and spring. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The Global Education Office issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, the Anderson MBA and optical science attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes. International undergraduates with strong grades are considered for merit awards that reduce tuition toward the in-state rate, applied automatically when they apply. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are common in engineering and the sciences, often linked to national-lab projects.
