New Mexico State University
Introduction
About NMSU
A comprehensive land-grant institution of higher learning, New Mexico State University is dedicated to teaching, research, and service at the undergraduate and graduate levels. NMSU is a NASA Space Grant College, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is home to the very first Honors College in New Mexico. U.S. News and World Report rank NMSU in the top tier among Best National Universities.
A Brief History
New Mexico was still a territory when Las Cruces College opened the doors of its two-room building in the fall of 1888. The organizers of Las Cruces College—led by Hiram Hadley, a respected educator from Indiana—had even bigger plans in mind.
In 1889, the New Mexico territorial legislature authorized the creation of an agricultural college and experiment station in or near Las Cruces. The institution, which was designated as the land-grant college for New Mexico under the Morrill Act, was named the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
Las Cruces College merged with N.M.A. & M.A., and the new school opened on January 21, 1890. That first semester there were 35 students in the college level and preparatory classes and six faculty members. Classes met in the old two-room building of Las Cruces College until suitable buildings could be put on the 220-acre campus three miles south of Las Cruces.
By 1960, the school had grown greatly, and its name was changed by state constitutional amendment to New Mexico State University.
Today New Mexico State University sits on a 900-acre campus and enrolls 16,428 students from all 50 states and from 71 nations. Regular faculty members number 694 and staff, 3,113.
Be Bold. Shape the Future
New Mexico State University sits on a 900-acre campus and enrolls more than 14,000 students from 49 states and 89 foreign countries. NMSU is a NASA Space-Grant College and is home to the very first Honors College in New Mexico. 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 Leads 2025
The strategic goals outlined in NMSU LEADS 2025 reflect the university’s mission and vision and are vital to NMSU’s success. These include advancing student success; elevating research and creativity; amplifying extension and outreach, and building a robust NMSU system. The strategic goals are designed to be broad enough for each unit within the university system to find a way to contribute. Additionally, the university will focus on a number of grand challenges facing the state and communities around the globe. These include creating healthy borders, modernizing critical infrastructure and transforming education in New Mexico.
Our Mission
The mission of the New Mexico State University system is to serve the diverse needs of the state through comprehensive programs of education, research, extension and outreach, and public service. As the state’s land-grant and space-grant university, and as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, NMSU fosters learning, inquiry, diversity and inclusion, social mobility, and service to the broader community.
Our Vision
By 2025, the NMSU system will excel in student success and social mobility for our diverse student populations, achieve the highest Carnegie research status (R1) and maintain our Carnegie Community Engagement classification.
Our Values
- Leadership: Promoting and creating the ability for Aggies to shape the future
- Excellence: Providing the highest level of education, research, outreach, and service
- Access: Welcoming diverse populations to higher education and to the NMSU community
- Diversity & Inclusion: Embracing our differences as an asset and actively seeking to include wide-ranging perspectives
- Student-Centered: Supporting the education of our students through every aspect of our university, every day
These values are encapsulated as BE BOLD. Shape the Future.
New Mexico is Our Campus
NMSU provides learning opportunities to a diverse population of students and community members at five campuses, a satellite learning center in Albuquerque, cooperative extension offices located in each of New Mexico's 33 counties, 12 research and science centers and through distance education.
Degrees and Certification
Bachelor's and graduate degree programs are available through the following colleges based in NMSU Las Cruces: Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences; Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering; Health and Social Services; Honors and the Graduate School. Certificates, licensure programs and associate degree programs are available from the community colleges in Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Doña Ana County and Grants, and the College of Arts and Sciences in Las Cruces.
- Undergraduate Majors
- Graduate Programs
Athletics
A member of the NCAA Division 1 Western Athletic Conference in 15 of its 16 varsity sports. NMSU football plays as an independent. Our Pan American Center can accommodate 12,590 and Aggie Memorial Stadium seats 30,000.
Arts and Recreation
The university offers a variety of arts and recreational activities. Museums and art galleries, professional theater, music ensembles and symphony, visiting artists, national performers, professional roadshows, on-campus public radio and TV stations, a student-run radio station, an 18-hole golf course, tennis, activity and aquatic centers are available at NMSU Las Cruces.
Accreditation
New Mexico State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604. Telephone: 800-621-7440.
Gallery
Campus Features
Academic Resources
- Academic Advising
- Academic Calendar
- Catalogs
- Distance Education
- Final Exam Schedule
- Library
- Registrar's Office
- STAR Degree Audit
- Transcript Information
Support & Development
- American Indian Program
- Black Programs
- Campus Tutoring Services
- Career Services
- Campus Health Center
- Counseling Center
- Chicano Programs
- International and Border Programs
- Military and Veterans Programs
- Sexual & Gender Diversity Resource Center
- Student Accessibility Services
- Student Help and Complaint Process
- TRiO Programs
- TRIO STEM-H Student Support Services
Campus Information
- Campus Activities
- Computing Labs
- Greek Life
- Health and Wellness
- ICT Help Desk
- ID Card Services
- Office of the Dean of Students
- Student Organizations
- National Student Exchange
- Network Access
Admissions
First Time Freshmen
You are eligible for regular admission to NMSU if you are a graduate of an accredited high school, and meet one of the following Freshman Admission Requirements listed below.
Freshman admission requirements
- A cumulative high school GPA of 2.75, or
- ACT composite score of 21 or SAT score of 1060, or
- Ranked in the top 20 percent of their graduating class
Official ACT or SAT scores are not required for admission or scholarship eligibility for 2021. However, it is beneficial for you to have them on file with us for Math and English placement when you enroll.
We encourage all students to apply for admission to NMSU. Applicants who meet all the requirements listed above will be offered admission to NMSU. An applicant who does not meet all the requirements may also be offered admission if a review of their additional information indicates that the student will be successful at NMSU.
ACT and SAT testing
- NMSU’s ACT code is 2638 – see the ACT website for information and upcoming test dates.
- NMSU’s SAT code is 4531 – see the SAT website for information and upcoming test dates.
Aggie Pathway
In the Aggie Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program, our system of five campuses works together to navigate you toward a bachelor’s degree – even if you initially don’t meet admission’s requirements to the university. Aggie Pathway students may transition to the Las Cruces campus after successful completion of:
- 24 credits, in addition to any required developmental courses
- 2.50 cumulative college GPA
Students participating in the Aggie Pathway program can attend academic, cultural and athletic events on the NMSU Las Cruces campus. Students enrolling through NMSU Doña Ana have access to on-campus housing and dining. For more information, see the Aggie Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program website.
Home school students
Students enrolled in a home school program may be accepted to NMSU if they meet the requirements for regular admission. In addition, the home school educator must submit a transcript or document that lists the courses completed and grades earned by the student. This transcript or document must also indicate the date the student completed or graduated from the home school program.
Home school students who are New Mexico residents and wish to participate in the Lottery Success Scholarship program are required to submit official New Mexico GED or HiSET test results in English.
Scholarships and Funding
Rankings
NMSU Rankings
Explore why New Mexico State University is consistently ranked among the nation's top university
A land-grant institution that excels in teaching, research and public service, NMSU searches for innovation in classrooms, laboratories and throughout our communities. We deliver solutions for the future and create change.
U.S. News & World Report
A top-tier university
For the fifth time in the last six years, New Mexico State University has been recognized as a top tier university. The rankings are based on assessment of excellence, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, graduation rate performance and alumni giving.
National Science Foundation
No. 1 in the nation among peers for science and engineering funding
NMSU leads all of America’s minority-serving institutions in federal obligations for science and engineering activities, according to a report from the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics.
Brookings Institution
No. 2 nationally for research and improving lives
NMSU has been listed as a leader in equal access to higher education, according to a report that gave NMSU the second-highest score in the nation as a public university that provides opportunities for social mobility to students and produces valuable research.
U.S. News & World Report
Graduate programs earn national distinction
NMSU features some of the best online programs, with the College of Education leading the way. U.S. News & World Report ranks the College of Education’s programs as 101st nationally in its Best Graduate Schools 2018 list — that’s an improvement of 45 spots from last year.
U.S. News & World Report
Online programs among the nation’s best
Eleven NMSU programs have been recognized as part of the top 150 programs in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools 2017.
Carnegie Foundation
New Mexico’s only Community Engagement Classification recipient
In recognition of its institutional commitment to serving communities across the state, NMSU received a 2015 Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Brookings Institute
Boosting economic earnings with the nation’s best
A recent Brookings Institute report places NMSU in the top 10 percent for value-added mid-career salary. NMSU was listed as 89th of 863 institutions across the nation for value added mid-career earnings, which is the difference between a college’s predicted and actual student economic outcomes.
Business Insider
One of the 50 most underrated colleges in America
NMSU ranks as 42nd on Business Insider’s list of most underrated colleges in America, based on reputation and future earnings.
Social Mobility Index
Ranked in the top 12 percent for improving students’ social mobility
According to CollegeNET’s Social Mobility Index ranking, NMSU ranks in the top 12 percent for schools that help improve their students’ economic status. The rankings are based on tuition, economic background, graduation rate, early career salary and endowment.
Forbes
Consistently listed among America’s Top Colleges
On Forbes’ most recent annual list of America’s Top Colleges, NMSU ranks 419th overall and 91st in the South. Forbes’ rankings are based on student satisfaction, post-graduate success, student debt, four-year graduation rate and academic success.
Center for World University Rankings
Ranked among the top 4 percent of global institutions
The 2018/19 Center for World University Rankings place NMSU in the top 4.3 percent of institutions of higher education worldwide. With 18,000 degree-granting institutions of higher education worldwide evaluated, NMSU ranked 770th and earned a national rank of 184th this year.
The Hispanic Outlook for Higher Education
A top 100 university for Hispanics
NMSU is one of the best institutions for Hispanics in the United States. In the Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education’s Top 100 Colleges and Universities for Hispanics list, NMSU ranks 21st in total first major master’s degrees granted and 26th in first major bachelor’s degrees granted.
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education
A leader in awarding degrees to Hispanics and Native Americans
NMSU is a leading university for awarding degrees to minority students. In several disciplines, NMSU ranks among the top 10 nationally for bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanic and Native American students.
College Values Online
Ag college ranked sixth-best value in America
New Mexico State University’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences is rated as one of the nation’s best values among agriculture colleges, beating out several larger institutions. Read more
G.I. Jobs magazine
One of America’s most military-friendly universities
New Mexico State University is a top 50 Military Friendly school in degree programs within areas of telecommunications and security/corrections, according to G.I. Jobs magazine. Military Friendly schools represent the top tier of institutions that provide the best educational opportunities for military service members and their dependents. NMSU has been designated a Military Friendly school since 2010.
National Science Foundation
NMSU engineering professor looks to nature for new solutions
NMSU consistently ranks in the top seven percent of all U.S. institutions for engineering based on National Science Foundation Research Expenditures. One of NMSU’s NSF endeavors is partnering on the new Engineering Research Center through an $18.5 million award to develop advances in geotechnical engineering that will provide solutions to some of the world’s biggest infrastructure development and environmental challenges.
National Science Foundation
NMSU astronomy professor studies sun to help forecast weather
According to National Science Foundation Research Expenditures, NMSU consistently ranks in the top 20 percent of all U.S. institutions for physical sciences that includes disciplines such as astronomy, chemistry and physics. One NMSU professor is using a nearly $600,000 NSF award to the sun’s and other stars’ interior using seismology.
English Language Requirements
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Locations
- Las Cruces
East University Avenue,1780, 88003, Las Cruces