University of New Mexico acceptance rate and your odds of getting in
University of New Mexico, a public university in New Mexico, reports a 95% acceptance rate and sits in the accessible band. In practice that means it admits most qualified applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.
Use this page to see what University of New Mexico weighs, where it ranks among New Mexico schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1190, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
What do students study at University of New Mexico?
Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.
Will I get into University of New Mexico?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of New Mexico, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of New Mexico?
Your odds at University of New Mexico are not the same as its 95% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of New Mexico in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of New Mexico hard to get into?
University of New Mexico is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 95% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
What GPA do you need to get into University of New Mexico?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of New Mexico, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. University of New Mexico reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
How to get into University of New Mexico
Built from University of New Mexico's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.
There is no formula that guarantees a spot at University of New Mexico, but the applicants who get in tend to do the same four things. Here is what the numbers say each one looks like.
CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at University of New Mexico carries about a 2.96 core GPA and a 1120 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.
The admitted middle 50% is 890 to 1170 SAT (19 to 26 ACT). Submit a score at 1030 or higher; below 890, apply test-optional if the policy allows.
University of New Mexico rates academic GPA and state residency highest. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.
Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by University of New Mexico's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.unm.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.
How many students apply to University of New Mexico, and how many get in?
University of New Mexico admitted 12,320 of the 12,907 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 95.5%. 3,612 enrolled. Only about 29% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. University of New Mexico enrolls about 17,244 undergraduates in total, 57% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for University of New Mexico?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of New Mexico scored between 890 and 1170 on the SAT (average 1038). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 19 to 26. A score above 1170 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 890 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. University of New Mexico is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.
What University of New Mexico looks for
What University of New Mexico weighs most heavily in its admissions review, modeled from its selectivity and profile.
The factors that carry the most weight at University of New Mexico are academic GPA and state residency. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. The full breakdown is charted below; with no reported data published, it is modeled from schools of this selectivity and type, so treat it as a planning guide rather than an official rubric.
SAT score positioning at University of New Mexico
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.
How much does University of New Mexico cost after financial aid?
University of New Mexico's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $21,259 per year. Tuition and fees are $10,140 for NM residents and $33,060 for out-of-state students, a $22,920 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $15,489 a year, and it ranges from $11,938 for families earning under $30,000 to $19,053 for families earning over $110,000. 39% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.
What do University of New Mexico graduates earn, and how many graduate?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of New Mexico student who received federal aid earns $44,792 a year, up from $37,150 at six years. 55% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 76% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $18,450; 44% of undergraduates take federal loans.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.
How University of New Mexico compares in New Mexico
University of New Mexico ranks #7 most selective of 7 schools in New Mexico in our database.
Among the 7 New Mexico schools we track, University of New Mexico ranks #7 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of the Southwest (65%) and Eastern New Mexico University (75%) sit nearby, which makes New Mexico a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to University of New Mexico
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
Applicants targeting University of New Mexico often weigh Fresno State University, North Dakota State University, and Cal State San Marcos, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What is University of New Mexico's acceptance rate?
University of New Mexico admitted 12,320 of 12,907 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 95.5% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 29% of admitted students enrolled.
What SAT score do you need for University of New Mexico?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 890 to 1170 on the SAT and 19 to 26 on the ACT. A score above 1170 is in the top quarter of admits. University of New Mexico is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.
Is University of New Mexico test-optional?
Yes. University of New Mexico reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.
How much does University of New Mexico cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of New Mexico, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $15,489 a year against a sticker price of about $21,259. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $11,938 on average.
What do University of New Mexico graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entering University of New Mexico are $44,792 a year among students who received federal aid, and 55% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).
What does University of New Mexico value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of New Mexico weighs academic GPA and state residency most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of New Mexico favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, University of New Mexico generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at University of New Mexico?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of New Mexico specifically.
What are the admission requirements for University of New Mexico?
University of New Mexico reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.