Photo by: Hamid M. Rad
Photo provided by Department of Surveying Engineering
Photo provided by Indian Student Association
Las Cruces, home of New Mexico State University, is New Mexico's second largest city with a population of about 80,000. Located in the south west portion of the state of New Mexico, the city is 42 miles (67.5 kilometers) from El Paso, Texas (map). The El Paso International Airport is the closest major airport to Las Cruces. The most frequently used mode of transportation option from the El Paso airport to Las Cruces is the Las Cruces Shuttle with a fare of $35 (For daily schedules and fares please visit the Las Cruces Shuttle website).
The Las Cruces area enjoys a mild climate (average temperatures range from a low of 40° F (4°C) in the winter to a high of 97° F (36 °C) in the summer). Average rainfall is 8.5 inches per year. Residents enjoy year-round hiking in the nearby Organ Mountains (8000+ ft), which create a stunning backdrop to the city of Las Cruces. For highly skilled Mountain Climbers, the Organ Mountains offer challenging rock walls (photo) such as the Rabbit Ears (photo) . The Organ Mountains also afford breath-taking views of the Rio Grande Valley (on the west side) (photo) and the White Sands National Monument (to the east).
Las Cruces is a college town that was recognized as "one of the best college towns to retire in" by the Money Magazine, November 2005. International students find Las Cruces to be a welcoming community that offers a very comfortable lifestyle. NMSU offers several housing options on campus. If one chooses to live off campus, there are a number of apartment complexes close to NMSU campus easily accessible by walking, bus service, or bicycle. Two bedroom apartments usually rent for about $500 a month.
The Las Cruces area has recently become the official home for the Ansari X PRIZE Competition, whose goal is to turn the dream of personal space flight into reality. Las Cruces has hosted several X Prize events that have attracted thousands of space enthusiasts from all over the nation. In addition, the Southwest Regional Space Port is to be constructed about 45 miles north of Las Cruces and is expected to further economic developments in the area.
While Las Cruces has many excellent Mexican restaurants, there are also other ethnic restaurants in town that offer Mediterranean, Chinese, Thai, and Indian cuisines, some of which provide their customers with free wireless internet access. Every year NMSU celebrates its multicultural population by hosting events such as the International Festival. A number of international student communities have formed their own associations, namely the Korean Student Association, the Indian Student Association, and the Muslim Student Association.
For further information about the area please visit the links below. Should you have any questions, please contact Mary Jaspers at marjaspe@nmsu.edu or via phone at +1 505-646-3199.