Points of Pride

Unleashing Potential

We are New Mexico's land-grant institution, a comprehensive research institution of higher education dedicated to teaching, research and public service and outreach. U.S. News and World Report ranks NMSU in the top tier among Best National Universities. A Hispanic-serving institution, NMSU serves a multi-cultural population of students and community members across the state at five campuses, a satellite learning center in Albuquerque, cooperative extension offices located in each of New Mexico's 33 counties, and 12 agriculture research and science centers. Plus, distance education programs give students maximum flexibility. Our Honors College, the very first one established in New Mexico, offers qualified undergraduates the opportunity to further enrich a challenging academic program via rigorous classes taught by master teachers. NMSU is truly a reflection of the region's vibrant communities - an exciting place to live, learn and thrive.

Excellence in Teaching

Our dedicated professors provide the resources our students need to achieve their best and meet their academic and personal goals. Inside and outside of the classroom, NMSU's professors actively engage with undergraduate and graduate students, offering individual attention in a learning-centered environment. The Teaching Academy is just one of the many resources that keep our professors at the top of their game. For videos of professors talking about their passion for teaching, research and service, click here.

NMSU has a long-standing commitment to meeting contemporary needs of our students. Among institutions of higher education in New Mexico, we alone offer:

aerospace, industrial and surveying engineering
engineering physics
engineering technology
information and communication technology
professional golf management

In response to industry demand, the College of Engineering developed a bachelor's degree in Information Engineering Technology, preparing graduates for careers in information security, eCommerce, data mining and networking.

Celebrating Diversity

NMSU is classified as a Hispanic-serving institution by the U.S. Department of Education and is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. Our student population on the Las Cruces campus is 45 percent Hispanic; other minorities that make up the student body include American Indians, Asians and African-Americans. Historically, NMSU has supported minorities in their academic goals--in fact, we admitted an African-American woman in 1928, well ahead of most other institutions of higher education. The university offers a multitude of support services to all students; interested minorities may also take advantage of the American Indian Program, Black Programs and Chicano Programs offices.

NMSU was selected as an inaugural recipient of the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
A National Science Foundation academic research and development expenditures survey (2010 statistics, the most current issued by the NSF) ranked NMSU 3rd nationally in research and development expenditures at Hispanic-serving institutions--we're #1 in that category among universities without medical schools.
Forbes ranks NMSU 13th in the nation among the best colleges for helping minorities to succeed in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education ranks NMSU'S health professions and related programs among the top producers for Native American and Hispanic degree recipients in the nation. NMSU ranks number 10 nationally in the number of degrees awarded to Native American students in graduate health professions and related programs, and 23rd in the nation for undergraduate degrees awarded to Hispanic students in health professions and related programs.
Also, according to Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, NMSU ranked number one for the number of master's level public health degrees awarded to Native American students, and 11th for the number of undergraduate nursing degrees awarded to Hispanic students.
The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education ranks NMSU 21st out of 100 colleges/universities in bachelor's degrees conferred on Hispanics. We are in the top 10 in three categories: agriculture and agricultural operations, education, and public administration and social service.The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education places NMSU 19th out of 100 colleges/universities in awarding master degrees to Hispanics.
The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education ranks NMSU 21st out of 100 colleges/universities in bachelor's degrees conferred on Hispanics. We are in the top 10 in three categories: agriculture and agricultural operations, education, and public administration and social service. Also, the publication places NMSU 14th in awarding master degrees and/or doctoral degrees in the STEM fields to Hispanics. We rank 21st in the nation in awarding master degrees in business management/marketing.

National Recognition

Our Creative Media Institute is ranked by Animation Career Review as number 49 among more than 400 schools considered for the 2013 Top 100 U.S. Schools for Animation and Game Design. Criteria used to determine rankings include academic reputation, admission selectivity, depth and breadth of the program and faculty, and value as it relates to tuition and geographic location.
Washington Monthly places us at number 102 among 281 "national universities," a jump of 47 spots from 2011. Rankings are based largely on recruiting and graduating low-income students, producing cutting-edge research and encouraging students to give something back to their country.

NMSU's education graduate school program is ranked as one of the top 125 programs in the nation, coming in at number 106 on the U.S. News & World Report 2013 Best Graduate Schools rankings.
We are in the top tier of the U.S. News & World Report Best National Universities rankings, just one more indicator that NMSU provides students with a high quality, affordable education. Criteria include quality of teaching, great career prospects and graduation rates.
Also, U.S. News and World Report's 2013 Best Online Education Programs recognizes NMSU as a leading producer of online degrees. We rank 52nd in Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs (out of 101 programs ranked), 134th in Best Online Graduate Education Programs (208) and 157th in the Best Online Bachelors Programs, out of 237 evaluated.

U.S. News and World Report's list of Best National Universities for 2012 recognizes NMSU as one of the universities where students graduate with the least debt.
Our online graduate nursing program places 33 in the Faculty Credentials and Training category in U.S. News and World Report's 2012 edition of Top Online Education Program rankings.
GI Jobs magazine lists NMSU in its 2012 Military Friendly Schools guide for "welcoming military veterans and enhancing their experience as students."
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education places NMSU among the top 100 undergraduate and graduate degree producers for minority students.
StateUniversity.com places us in the top 40% of 2,000 public colleges and universities nationwide.

Leadership in Research

NMSU has established interdisciplinary research clusters that build on institutional strengths and respond to local, regional, and national needs in areas such as natural resource sustainability, information sciences and security, space and aerospace programs, biosciences, and border-related programs (such as health, education, and economic development).

In 2012 fiscal year, NMSU's sponsored awards totaled nearly $130 million. Research expenditures for the fiscal year topped $136 million. Per the National Science Foundation, NMSU consistently ranks in the top 110 institutions in the nation in the category of federal research and development expenditures. Our federal R&D expenditures in Engineering alone put us in the top 20 consistently.

Our Minority Access to Research Careers, a research training support activity of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, prepares minority students for research careers and helps to increase the number and skills of scientists from underrepresented minority groups who are engaged in biomedical research.

Our Physical Science Laboratory (PSL), working with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, developed a signal-jamming apparatus that keeps improvised explosive devices from detonating. Working with the Federal Aviation Authority, PSL has established unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) flight test center facility. PSL has also helped NASA’s balloon program break records in achieving height and flight duration.

NMSU's Cooperative Extension Service and Agricultural Experiment Station have been cited as exceeding expectations in research and public service by the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education.

Serving through Outreach

NMSU is the lead institution for the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium (NMSGC). NMSGC is a member of the congressionally funded National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by NASA and charged with establishing and maintaining a national network of universities and encouraging cooperative programs among universities, the aerospace industry, and local, state and federal governments.

We are one of only two universities in the nation to reach the platinum (highest) level of service to NASA's Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program, which makes the expertise of corporate and university researchers available to small businesses.

The Arrowhead Center assists entrepreneurs by identifying markets, verifying new technologies, writing business plans and locating financing.

The College of Engineering’s Consortium for Environmental Education and Technology Development is helping communities remove arsenic from drinking water.

The College of Education’s Gadsden Math Initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation, is helping students in elementary and middle schools understand and build math concepts, thereby raising test scores.

The State is Our Campus