University Facts

NMSU Notables

NMSU was first in New Mexico to offer students an Honors College.
NMSU is the only university in the state with a PGA Golf Management program.
NMSU is home to New Mexico's NASA Space Grant Program.
NMSU basketball has more NCAA Tournament appearances than any other university in the state.
NMSU has conducted agricultural research since 1906.
Chile peppers developed by NMSU have been grown in space.
NMSU was one of the first universities to have an officially licensed beer, wine, whisky and seltzer.
NMSU is home to one of the largest annual luminaria displays in the Southwest.
NMSU has one of the few full-time planetary observatories in the United States.
The astronomer Clyde W. Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto, taught at the university from 1961 to 1973.
NMSU has a higher percentage of Hispanic students than any other research university in New Mexico (or Arizona).
While main campus sits on 900 acres, the NMSU system is one of the world’s largest college campuses, with an area of about 6,250 acres.

Our Heritage

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NMSU System Economic Development Plan

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Statistics

Overview
Founded 1888 by Hiram Hadley as the Las Cruces College, and the following year became New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts and designated as a Land Grant college.
Opened September 17, 1888 Included an elementary school, a university preparatory school, and a business school until it merged with New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, and opened on January 21, 1890. In February 1891, McFie Hall, popularly known as Old Main, opened its doors as the first campus building.
Identity Public land-grant research university NMSU is the oldest public institution of higher education in the state of New Mexico. The designation as New Mexico’s land-grant university under the Morrill Act has shaped NMSU since the late 1880s. NMSU has been dedicated to New Mexico’s diverse population for more than a century, transforming lives through three main pursuits: teaching, research and public service.
Degrees Awarded 2021-2022
Associate 2
Bachelor's 2,444
Graduate Certificate 47
Master's 735
Education Specialist 6
Doctorate 127
Total University 3,361

Some students may have earned more than one certificate/degree. Includes degrees from all campuses. Data reported as of December 2021.

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A concise pocket guide debuts every fall and provides a brief biographical sketch of the NMSU student body through a series of simple, yet informative, visualizations. In addition to reporting basic demographic information, Quick Facts also highlights the academic interests of our diverse student body.

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A comprehensive tableau visualization of data about the NMSU community including – Student, Enrollment Mapping, Faculty, Staff and Degrees. These visualizations cover a wide array of demographic, biographical and institutional information about our students, our employees and our administration.