New Mexico State University (NMSU or NM State) is a public, land-grant and space-grant, flagship research university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States, and the flagship campus of NMSU System. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest public institution of higher education in the state of New Mexico. Total enrollment across all campuses as of 2017 was 24580, with branch campuses in Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Doña Ana County and Grants, and with extension and research centers across New Mexico. It was founded in 1888 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. It received its present name in 1960. NMSU has 24,580 students enrolled as of Fall 2017, and has a faculty-to-student ratio of about 1 to 16. NMSU offers a wide range of programs and awards associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees through its main campus and four community colleges. NMSU offers 28 doctoral degree programs, 58 master's degree programs, and 96 baccalaureate majors. NMSU is the only research-extensive, land-grant, U.S.-Mexico border institution classified by the federal government as serving Hispanics.
