The University of New Mexico is New Mexico’s flagship public research university, located in Albuquerque and supported by branch campuses that extend access to communities elsewhere in the state. The territorial legislature founded UNM on February 28, 1889, before New Mexico became a state. Its earliest classes were offered in the 1890s, and the institution developed on a mesa east of Albuquerque’s original city center. The university’s architectural identity later became closely associated with Pueblo Revival design, while its academic mission expanded from general collegiate instruction into a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate, graduate, professional, health, and research programs. UNM offers more than 220 degree programs and more than 90 undergraduate degree options, along with certificates and extensive graduate education. Academic units include arts and sciences, education and human sciences, fine arts, nursing, pharmacy, population health, business, architecture and planning, engineering, law, medicine, graduate studies, libraries, and Honors. Undergraduate students can pursue anthropology, architecture, biology, business, chemical engineering, civil engineering, communication, computer engineering, computer science, economics, electrical engineering, English, environmental science, fine arts, nursing, political science, psychology, public health, and many other fields. Graduate study includes master’s and doctoral programs in American studies, anthropology, biology, chemistry, communication, economics, engineering, earth and planetary sciences, education, and numerous interdisciplinary areas. UNM’s location is a major academic asset. Albuquerque sits within a state shaped by Indigenous nations, Hispanic and Latino communities, energy and technology industries, federal laboratories, health-care systems, aerospace activity, and distinctive environmental challenges. These contexts influence research and teaching in health disparities, engineering, water, climate, archaeology, languages, public policy, population health, arts, architecture, and regional studies. Partnerships with health systems, laboratories, public agencies, schools, businesses, and cultural organizations create opportunities for internships, clinical education, research, creative work, and community engagement. The university’s academic health environment is especially significant. The School of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, and College of Population Health connect professional education with research and clinical service. Engineering and science students benefit from the broader New Mexico technology ecosystem, while fine arts, architecture, humanities, and social sciences draw on Albuquerque and the region as living laboratories for creative and community-based work. Branch campuses at Gallup, Los Alamos, Taos, and Valencia provide additional access points within the state. First-year admission emphasizes the high-school academic record and completion of a recognized secondary-school program. ACT, SAT, and CLT scores are not required for admission, although submitted scores can be useful for placement or scholarship purposes. For 2026-27, published main-campus undergraduate tuition and fees are $11,585 for New Mexico residents and $34,734 for nonresidents before housing and other living costs. UNM also offers competitive merit scholarships, including the Regents’ Scholarship, which can provide approximately $24,000 per year and, for eligible nonresidents, a waiver that reduces tuition to the resident rate. Career resources include job and internship platforms, fairs, employer recruiting, career advising, and paid co-op opportunities through the relevant academic units.