New Mexico State University is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Bordered by the rugged Organ Mountains on the east and the legendary Rio Grande on the west, Las Cruces lies in the heart of the fertile Mesilla Valley. A Southern New Mexico city on the rise, Las Cruces has retained the charm and flavor of the "Old West" community it once was.

The University is a thriving center of higher education deeply rooted in Southwestern traditions. The campus is situated at the gateway to Mexico and Latin America. NMSU's role as a comprehensive university is recognized throughout the state. The 24 doctoral programs are in the areas of agriculture, education, engineering, and the sciences. The specialist is education degree is offered in four study areas. There are 50 master's degree programs and 74 baccalaureate programs.

The first responsibility of the University is the provide high quality education. As the state's land-grant institution, New Mexico State is committed to serving the educational needs of a student body of various ages, interests, and cultural backgrounds. The University seeks to educate each student not only in how to earn a living but also how to live a meaningful life.

Of the 23,000+ students attending the University in the fall of 1998, more than 15,000 were enrolled in six colleges at the main campus, with the remainder enrolled at White Sands Residence Center and the four branch campuses: Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Dona Ana and Grants. Under the direction and policies of the University, the branches offer the first two years of academic preparation and some vocational-technical education. Each of the branches is administered by a provost who reports to the Dean of the College of Health and Social Services.

Advancing knowledge and enriching culture are the major goals of education so they are the primary objectives of the University. From its beginning as a land-grant university, New Mexico State has endorsed the concept that strong programs of research and other creative endeavors provide the basis for strong academic programs. Faculty, professional staff, and students engage in creative activities and conduct and propagate the results of basic and applied research in virtually every discipline, often under external sponsorship and with the assistance of numerous specialized campus institutes, centers and laboratories.