University of New Mexico
#751-760
QS Rank
95%
Acceptance rate
~5%
Intl. students
19,000
Enrollment
16.9:1
Student:Faculty
About University of New Mexico
Public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Strong engineering, business, and STEM.
The University of New Mexico (UNM) is New Mexico's flagship public research university, founded in 1889 and located in Albuquerque. It holds Carnegie R1 classification for highest research activity and is designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, enrolling approximately 23,955 students across 12 colleges and schools as of Fall 2025.
UNM offers over 215 degree and certificate programs ranging from undergraduate certificates to doctoral degrees, plus professional programs in law, medicine, and pharmacy. Among its strongest undergraduate programs by US News 2026 rankings are Engineering (tied #96 nationally), Computer Science (#117), Nursing (#118), Psychology (#113), and Business (#150). The university's research enterprise spans space science, public health, and energy.
The main campus covers nearly 800 acres in Albuquerque along historic Route 66, featuring distinctive Pueblo Revival architecture and a nationally recognized campus arboretum. Albuquerque offers a relatively low cost of living compared to major US cities, and the university's location in the American Southwest gives students access to a diverse, multicultural urban environment.
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
NM
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- UNM's International Amigo Scholarship, worth approximately $23,148 per year, automatically reduces non-resident tuition to the in-state resident rate for qualifying international students (3.5 GPA required), bringing the estimated total cost of attendance down from $51,898 to $28,550 per year (2026-27 figures), making it significantly more affordable than most US universities.
- Strong undergraduate programs in Nursing (#118 nationally), Engineering (#96), and Computer Science (#117) align well with fields Nepali students commonly pursue, and graduates in STEM disciplines are eligible for a 3-year OPT extension (STEM OPT) allowing extended US work experience after graduation.
- As an R1 research university with a large graduate school, UNM provides research assistantship and teaching assistantship funding opportunities that can substantially offset graduate tuition and living costs for Nepali students pursuing master's or doctoral degrees.
- New Mexico's relatively low cost of living, combined with UNM's automatic scholarship consideration (no separate application required), makes this one of the more financially accessible accredited public research universities in the United States for international applicants.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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