NEW MEXICO – A study by New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center and the Center for Border Economic Development has found that the university has a multibillion-dollar economic impact on the state.
The study, “Economic Impact and Contribution of New Mexico State University, 2022,” found that the university generated 11,463 direct jobs, 19,634 total jobs, $2.6 billion in economic output, $1.6 billion in value-added output and $905 million in labor income in fiscal year 2022.
The university’s economic impact stems from its statewide operations, which include Cooperative Extension Service offices, 13 agricultural science and research centers, and satellite learning centers. It also benefits from the 66,083 NMSU alumni who live and work in the state.
The university’s research expenditures played a key role in its economic impact, according to the study. The university received $224 million in research funding in fiscal year 2022, which was used to support projects in a wide range of fields, including science, technology, engineering, mathematics, agriculture and health sciences.
NMSU also generates significant economic impact from its innovation and entrepreneurship outreach programs. These programs help entrepreneurs and business owners develop and expand their businesses.
The study notes NMSU’s success in moving its graduates up the socioeconomic ladder. The Brookings Institution ranked NMSU second in the nation in social mobility, while New Mexico ranked 13th on a 2022 list of 50 states in CollegeNET’s Social Mobility Index.
NMSU also attracts a large number of first-generation students, who represent approximately one in three of NMSU’s student population.
