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 only Honors College in New Mexico.
 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, 13 research and science centers and through distance education.

Bachelor and graduate degree programs are available through the following colleges based in Las Cruces: Agriculture and Home Economics, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Extended Learning, Health and Social Services, Honors, and the Graduate School. The College of Extended Learning also provides a wide array of distance education programs. Certificates, licensure programs and associate degree programs are available from the colleges in Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Doña Ana County and Grants, and the College of Arts and Sciences in Las Cruces.
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 road shows, on-campus public radio and TV stations, a student-run radio station, an 18-hole golf course, tennis and activity centers and natatorium are available at NMSU Las Cruces.