The university

Founded in 1889 as New Mexico’s flagship institution, the University of New Mexico now occupies nearly 800 acres along old Route 66 in the heart of Albuquerque, a metropolitan area of more than 900,000 people. In Fall 2011, the University of New Mexico served 36,742 students (29,056 Main & Health Sciences Center Campuses and 7,686 Branch Campuses). The institution employed 3,711 faculty (2,047 Main Campus, 1,114 Health Sciences Center Campus, and 550 Branch Campuses), 4,936 students (3,817 Main Campus, 930 Health Sciences Center Campus, and 190 Branch Campuses), and 6,713 staff (3,758 Main Campus, 2,658 Health Sciences Center Campus, and 297 Branch Campuses). In fiscal year 2011, the total operating and capital budget for the institution was $2.04 billion.

From the magnificent mesas to the west, past the banks of the historic Rio Grande to the Sandia Mountains to the east, Albuquerque is a blend of culture and cuisine, styles and stories, people, pursuits and panoramas. Offering a distinctive campus environment with a Pueblo Revival architectural theme, the Albuquerque campus includes over 300 facilities residing on 789 acres in the center of the metropolitan area. The nationally recognized campus arboretum and the popular duck pond offer an outstanding botanical experience in the midst of one of New Mexico's great public open spaces. UNM is the only institution in the State of New Mexico classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Doctoral University with “Very High” research activity.

UNM also is one of only two Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the United States that is designated with this Carnegie classification.

The University includes the Main Campus, Health Sciences Campus, and branch campuses in Gallup, Los Alamos, Taos and Valencia County along with UNM West, an extension campus in Rio Rancho. UNM offers graduate and upper division programs in Los Alamos and Santa Fe and throughout the state. UNM's libraries, museums, galleries and Center for the Arts are a rich cultural resource for the state. Home to the Lobos and contenders in the Mountain West conference, UNM athletics draw fans from all over. University Arena or “The Pit” is one of college basketball's most famous and recognizable buildings. In fact, The Pit was ranked 13th by Sports Illustrated as one of the top sporting venues of the 20th century.