Renay Scott NMSU Vice President for Student Success
Published in the Las Cruces Sun News
10:18 a.m. MT Aug. 18, 2024 Updated 10:18 a.m. MT Aug. 18, 2024

A new class of more than 2,400 first-year students is about to start at New Mexico State University this fall, alongside 9,000 continuing undergraduate students and 2,200 graduate students. These students have committed to working toward that day when they walk across the Commencement stage at the Pan American Center to the cheers of family, friends and hundreds of other graduates. They have all opted to invest in their future by spending time and money on the promise of a college education at an institution where they can feel at home.

It's likely the most NMSU students have encountered negative messages about the value of a college education. Critics fret about the high cost, the return on investment, and the inaccurate perception that colleges are exclusive institutions that only welcome students from families with a history in higher education. These critics could not be more wrong.

Although we live in uncertain times, some things do not change. Obtaining a college degree remains an important achievement in our post-COVID-19 economy. And in New Mexico, higher education pays even greater dividends that go to individual students, their families and even to the state of New Mexico.

Most New Mexicans can get college tuition and fees paid by the New Mexico Lottery Scholarship and the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship. Low-income students who qualify for federal Pell Grants – and at NMSU, that is usually close to half of our student population – might get nearly $7,400 dollars more to help pay other school costs. Since 2021, NMSU has supported all incoming students with a technology scholarship in the form of a laptop computer. We welcome students, help them pay for school, and help ensure that they have the tools to succeed. The high college costs that make headlines at other institutions are not the reality for resident students at state institutions like NMSU.

Likewise, cautionary tales about staggering college debt are not the norm at NMSU. According to U.S. News and World Report, the average student loan debt for graduates at NMSU is $17,095. This compares to the median loans of all borrowers in 2023 of $20,000 to $25,000, as reported by the Federal Reserve. BestColleges.com reports that the average loan debt for students graduating from all New Mexico colleges is $34,140. A student graduating from NMSU averages half that amount. 

While $17,095 is a lot of money for most people, our graduates get good jobs. The six biggest career sectors that employ NMSU alumni are business administration, marketing, electrical and computer engineering, aerospace engineering, education and nursing. Moreover, the average midcareer salary of an NMSU graduate is just under $84,000 per year. Those investments that the state of New Mexico puts into scholarships for higher education? The return is that 33% of NMSU graduates work in New Mexico and the majority of NMSU alumni contribute to and work in the regional economy. 

Students attending NMSU find belonging, success and meaningful opportunities to prepare for their postcollege career. Nearly 75% of first-time students return to NMSU after their first year and more than 85% of senior and first-year students report on the National Student Survey of Engagement that if they were to start again, they would again choose NMSU. 

Fueling student success begins with ensuring students have the resources, support and schedules that meet their needs. Students have opportunities to attend NMSU through traditional in-person degree programs and through flexible online degree programs offered by NMSU Global. All students are welcomed before their first semester at an orientation where they learn about NMSU. Students have access to tutoring, career exploration programs and meaningful student life activities. Faculty provide mentoring within the discipline, career guidance and research opportunities. Education Abroad, internships and experiential learning help students gain authentic experiences to hone the skills desired by employers for a 21st century workplace. 

Students attending NMSU understand that a college education is an excellent investment in a promising future. As the friends, families and community members of these students, we all need to commit to helping them earn that future.

Renay Scott is the vice president for student success at New Mexico State University. She may be reached at rmscott@nmsu.edu.