Accounting at New Mexico State University-Main Campus

New Mexico State's accounting program shows first-year graduates earning $38,057—significantly below both the state median of $45,318 and the national median of $53,694. This lands in just the 5th percentile nationally, which is concerning even accounting for the program's small sample size of under 30 graduates. Within New Mexico's seven accounting programs, it ranks in the 25th percentile, notably trailing Eastern New Mexico University where graduates start at $52,579.

The silver lining is aggressive earnings growth: salaries jump 40% to $53,098 by year four, eventually reaching competitive levels. The debt burden of $14,750 is also manageable—well below both state and national medians—yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 that makes the debt easily serviceable even during that weaker first year. For context, typical accounting programs nationally carry $25,000 in debt.

The real question is whether that slow start matters for your child's specific situation. If they plan to stay in New Mexico and can weather lower initial paychecks (perhaps by living at home), the combination of low debt and eventual catch-up growth could work. However, if immediate earnings matter—whether for independence or loan repayment—this program appears to lag its in-state competitors from day one. With limited sample data, these patterns could shift year to year, but the current picture suggests exploring Eastern New Mexico or out-of-state options if strong starting salaries are the priority.