A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at NMSU are mainly Hispanic with a sizeable White population. The school has high racial diversity. 70% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
New Mexico State University Main Campus has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and is eligible for federal grants supporting the school's efforts to serve Hispanic Americans.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
30%
|
| Black |
3%
|
| Hispanic |
55%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
2%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
2%
|
| International |
5%
|
| Race Unknown |
3%
|
There are 39% more female students than male students enrolled at New Mexico State University Main Campus with a gender ratio of 58% women to 42% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, NMSU has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is slightly less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
42%
|
| Women |
58%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
5,968
|
| Women |
8,300
|
NMSU serves a very low number of students outside of New Mexico, with 72 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
72%
|
| Out of State |
25%
|
| Foreign |
2%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
50% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 22.3% |
| Part time Undergrads | 13.4% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=188030 IPEDS survey data for New Mexico State University Main Campus.