771-780 in the world · QS 2027

The University of New Mexico

New Mexico's flagship: a Hispanic-Serving R1 university on a Pueblo Revival campus in Albuquerque.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Public research university Founded 1889 Official website

Acceptance rate: 80%; First-year applicants for fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
Students: 24,293; 18,466 undergraduates
International: 2%; of students
Student–faculty: 15:1; ratio
Tuition: $34,734; 2026-27

About UNM

The University of New Mexico was founded in 1889, before New Mexico became a state, and is the state's flagship university. Its Albuquerque campus is known for Pueblo Revival architecture introduced by president William G. Tight in the early 1900s. In fall 2025 UNM enrolled 24,293 students, including 18,466 undergraduates, and it is a Hispanic-Serving Institution: 9,482 of its undergraduates, about 51%, are Hispanic or Latino.

UNM is an R1 research university with 12 colleges and schools, including New Mexico's only law school and a School of Medicine alongside the Ellis School of Business Leadership, the School of Engineering, the School of Architecture and Planning, Fine Arts, Nursing and an Honors College. The campus holds four museums, among them the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology and the Meteorite Museum, and Zimmerman Library's Center for Southwest Research archives.

Admission is open to most applicants who complete a standard high school curriculum: UNM admitted about 80% of first-year applicants for fall 2025, does not require essays, recommendations or test scores, and charges a $25 application fee. It suits students who want an affordable big-university experience in the Southwest, especially New Mexico residents, who can combine the Lottery and Opportunity scholarships to cover tuition.

Lux Hominum Vita

“Light the Life of Man” — university motto

Why students choose UNM

New Mexico residents can combine the Legislative Lottery Scholarship and the Opportunity Scholarship, which together can cover up to 100% of tuition and fees.

Out-of-state students with a 3.5 GPA and 23 ACT (1130 SAT), or a 3.0 GPA and 26 ACT (1240 SAT), can win the Amigo Scholarship, worth about $23,149 a year toward non-resident tuition.

International students can receive the International Amigo Scholarship, which cuts tuition to the New Mexico resident rate.

A distinctive Pueblo Revival campus with four museums, more than 400 student organizations and Lobo basketball in The Pit.

Admissions

First-year applicants for fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)

10,866 admitted from 13,589 applicants

SAT 920–1170

1000120014001600

Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.

ACT 20–26

2024283236

Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.

3,775 first-years enrolled. New Mexico residents were admitted at about 82% (5,608 of 6,870), out-of-state applicants at about 85% (5,032 of 5,939) and international applicants at about 29% (226 of 780). Admission is based mainly on completing a standard high school curriculum and on GPA; some admitted students are required to start in summer.

Testing Not required: ACT, SAT or CLT scores are not needed for admission but may help in some cases; scores on the high school transcript are accepted. International students do not need the ACT or SAT. Scores can matter for scholarships (for example the Amigo Scholarship).

Grades Average high school GPA of enrolled first-years was 3.40 (CDS 2025-26). Test ranges describe enrolled first-years who submitted scores: 54% submitted the SAT and 8% the ACT. International freshman applicants need the equivalent of a 2.5 US GPA.

Typical entry requirements

US high school curriculum	The standard New Mexico high school curriculum (or equivalent in another state), preferably with two sequential units of a language other than English; cumulative GPA is considered
International secondary school record	Completion of the equivalent of US upper secondary school (about 12 years) with a US-equivalent GPA of 2.5; ACT/SAT not required
English language	IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 68 TOEFL iBT 68 (4.0 on the new scale), IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 95, PTE 47, TOEFL Essentials B2 or SAT Reading and Writing 500. Required if English is not your first language or not the official language of your country; scores must be less than two years old. The Center for English Language and American Culture offers intensive English.

Deadlines

Scholarship deadline (Regents' and Presidential) Non-binding Next deadline · In 56 days

December 1, 2026

Complete the admission application and the scholarship application by December 1 for UNM's most competitive four-year scholarships.
Amigo Scholarship (out-of-state) Non-binding In ~4 months

February 1, 2027

Apply to UNM by February 1 to be considered for the non-resident Amigo tuition scholarship.
International priority application (fall 2027) Non-binding In ~5 months

March 1, 2027

Final international application deadline May 1, 2027; required documents by June 1, 2027. The International Amigo Scholarship's fall priority deadline is February 15.
Priority application date (fall 2027) Non-binding In ~8 months

June 1, 2027

Domestic freshmen; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis once complete.

UNM uses rolling admission with priority dates rather than binding rounds. International deadlines are from the International Admissions timeline for fall 2027; domestic scholarship deadlines are from the Scholarship Office's 2027-28 freshman scholarship tables.

How to apply

UNM online application; $25 application fee (ACT and SAT fee waivers accepted); official high school transcripts sent directly by your school. Essays, portfolios and recommendations are not required, and test scores are optional. International applicants apply online with a $50 fee, submit transcripts, English proficiency results and financial documents.

What admissions looks for

Completion (or projected completion) of the standard New Mexico high school curriculum or its equivalent.
Cumulative high school GPA.
Two sequential years of a language other than English, which UNM prefers.
Test scores only if you choose to send them; they can help in some cases and matter for scholarships.

Tips for applying to UNM

1 Apply early in your senior year: UNM's competitive scholarships need the admission and scholarship applications in by December 1.
2 Out-of-state applicants should apply by February 1 and send ACT/SAT scores if they help: the Amigo Scholarship needs a 3.5 GPA with 23 ACT or a 3.0 GPA with 26 ACT.
3 New Mexico residents should complete at least 12 credits with a 2.5 GPA in their first semester to qualify for the Lottery Scholarship; there is no application, and filing the FAFSA is encouraged.
4 International applicants should aim for the March 1 priority date to leave time for visas, and send scores if they meet the International Amigo criteria (3.5 GPA, or 3.0 GPA with ACT 26 / SAT 1240).
5 If you are not admitted, UNM allows you to request reconsideration with new transcripts, test scores or recommendations.

What are your chances?

Costs & financial aid

2026-27 · figures in USD

New Mexico residents, tuition and fees for the full academic year (base rate) Tuition $11,585

+ food and housing, traditional on-campus estimate for the academic year $10,648 ≈ $22,233 per year

Non-residents, tuition and fees for the full academic year (base rate); non-residents awarded a scholarship may pay the resident rate Tuition $34,734

+ food and housing, traditional on-campus estimate for the academic year $10,648 ≈ $45,382 per year

Tuition Food and housing, traditional on-campus estimate for the academic year

Official cost of attendance $52,549

Financial aid

UNM awarded more than $250 million in scholarships in 2025-26. New Mexico residents can receive the Legislative Lottery Scholarship (about $4,294 a semester from the second semester) and the Opportunity Scholarship, which covers any remaining gap up to 100% of tuition and fees; Regents' Scholars receive about $15,500 a year. Non-residents with a 3.0 GPA or a 20 ACT / 1030 SAT who are awarded a scholarship may pay resident tuition, and the Amigo Scholarship is worth about $23,149 a year. International students are automatically considered for the International Amigo Scholarship (resident tuition rate) and the Leadership Scholarship.

$29,400 / $52,549, including books, transportation and miscellaneous costs
2026-27 cost of attendance (resident or non-resident with scholarship / non-resident): About $23,149 per year plus a $200 stipend, renewable for 4 years
Amigo Scholarship (out-of-state freshmen): Resident tuition rate for international students (3.5 GPA, or 3.0 GPA with ACT 26 / SAT 1240)
International Amigo Scholarship: More than $250 million
Scholarships awarded in 2025-26

Academics

Academic calendar: Semesters

Anthropology

Taught alongside the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology on central campus.

Law (School of Law)

New Mexico's only law school, where Interior Secretary Deb Haaland earned a JD in Indian law.

Earth and planetary sciences

Northrop Hall houses the Silver Family Geology Museum and the Meteorite Museum.

Southwest studies and English

Zimmerman Library's Center for Southwest Research holds regional archives, and alumni include novelist Rudolfo Anaya.

Architecture and Planning

Studied on a campus whose Pueblo Revival style, including the Estufa, is itself a lesson in regional architecture.

Research

Classified R1 (very high research activity) and a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
Four campus museums, including the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, the Meteorite Museum and the Museum of Southwestern Biology.
The Center for Southwest Research in Zimmerman Library holds special collections and archives on the region.

Schools & faculties

College of Arts & Sciences
The James & Gail Ellis School of Business Leadership
College of Education & Human Sciences
School of Engineering
School of Architecture and Planning
College of Fine Arts
Honors College
College of Nursing
College of Pharmacy
College of Population Health
School of Law
School of Medicine

Graduation rate

54%

First-year students who return

76%

College Scorecard: median earnings of $44,792 ten years after entry (and $37,150 six years after entry) for federally aided students.

Student life

UNM is largely a commuter campus: only about 17% of undergraduates live in university housing, though 48% of first-years do. Student life centres on the Student Union Building, with a food court, cinema and student government offices, and the Frontier Restaurant across Central Avenue is a late-night institution. There are more than 400 student organizations, a small Greek community, and Lobo athletics in the Mountain West Conference, with men's basketball played in The Pit, host of the 1983 NCAA championship game.

The Lobos compete in NCAA Division I in the Mountain West Conference; the women's cross-country team won NCAA titles in 2015 and 2017.
The Pit, UNM's basketball arena, hosted North Carolina State's famous 1983 NCAA championship upset.
More than 400 student organizations.
The duck pond west of Zimmerman Library is a favourite campus spot.

Housing. 48% of first-year students lived in university housing in fall 2025; most undergraduates live off campus or commute.

Location

UNM's main campus sits on the heights about a mile east of downtown Albuquerque, with Central Avenue along its southern edge and the Frontier Restaurant opposite. The university's own international office describes a sunny campus on the slope of the Rocky Mountains with 310 days of sunshine a year. Most students are New Mexicans (86% of US undergraduates), and more than half of undergraduates are Hispanic or Latino, which shapes the campus culture.

Nearest airport: Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)

Notable alumni

DH
Deb Haaland

US Secretary of the Interior (2021-2025); BA in English (1994) and JD in Indian law (2006)
ML
Michelle Lujan Grisham

Governor of New Mexico; BA (1981) and JD (1987)
GJ
Gary Johnson

Governor of New Mexico and Libertarian presidential nominee; BS in political science
RA
Rudolfo Anaya

Novelist (Bless Me, Ultima); BA (1963) and two master's degrees
TH
Tony Hillerman

Mystery novelist; master's degree from UNM, where he later taught journalism
BU
Brian Urlacher

Chicago Bears linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Famer; played for the Lobos and majored in criminology

Frequently asked questions

What is UNM's acceptance rate?

For fall 2025, UNM admitted 10,866 of 13,589 first-year applicants, about 80%. International applicants were admitted at about 29%.

Does UNM require the SAT or ACT?

No. Test scores are not required for admission, including for international students, but they can help in some cases and for scholarships such as the Amigo Scholarship.

When should I apply to UNM for fall 2027?

UNM reviews applications on a rolling basis with a fall priority date of June 1, 2027. Apply by December 1, 2026 for top scholarships and by February 1, 2027 for the out-of-state Amigo Scholarship; international applicants have a March 1 priority date.

How much does UNM cost for out-of-state students?

For 2026-27, non-resident tuition and fees are $34,734 and the estimated cost of attendance is $52,549. Non-residents awarded a scholarship with a 3.0 GPA or 20 ACT / 1030 SAT may pay the resident rate of $11,585.

Does UNM offer scholarships to international students?

Yes. All international applicants are considered automatically; the International Amigo Scholarship reduces tuition to the New Mexico resident rate for students with a 3.5 GPA, or a 3.0 GPA plus ACT 26 or SAT 1240.

Sources & methodology

Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.