Story by Carli Chavez

Even with the recession in full effect, college tuition keeps increasing.  But at New Mexico State University tuition is still reasonably priced compared to the rest of the United States.

NMSU and other campuses

According to College Board, students and their families can expect to pay an increase next year anywhere from $150 to more than $1,000.  This is about a 6.5 percent rise in tuition for public education.  The increase is almost identical to last year’s increase of 6.4 percent.  Students going to NMSU or  planning to attend in the fall of 2010 can expect to pay an increase of about $120 in their tuition.  This would make the cost to attend NMSU from $2,370 to $2,499 per semester.

NMSU

Students will expect to pay more money for tuition next year. (Photo illustration by Carli Chavez

While there is a jump in  tuition for colleges across the U.S., NMSU is not anywhere near the top 100 highest-priced colleges.  For a New Mexico  resident planning to attend an in-state college, the prices are even lower.  For an in-state student attending New Mexico State University, the price is about $4,998. The price for an out-of-state student is about $15,150.  This means that a credit hour for in-state students is $208 while the same credit for an out-of-state student costs $631.

Lottery Scholarship

The main way New Mexicans can save money by going to a New Mexico college is through the Lottery Scholarship.  This scholarship is offered to college students who finish their first year of college with a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.5 and applies for another 12 hours of classes the following semester.  The scholarship covers tuition, but does not cover the fees.  The Lottery Scholarship is only one of the many scholarships, loans and grants that are accessible to NMSU students.