Against All Odds: How Anthony Earned His Online Sociology Degree

Anthony R.’s academic journey was never an easy one. With help from the supportive community he found at NMSU Global Campus, Anthony graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology online. Speaking with us after Spring 2025 Commencement, this proud Global grad opened up about the struggles he faced growing up — and the perseverance it took to overcome them.

Born to young teenage parents, Anthony often felt marginalized as he grappled with food insecurity, unstable housing, and limited job opportunities. Experiencing homelessness for much of his childhood, he was unable to attend school consistently between the fifth and eighth grades.

Later on, as a teenager, he sometimes lived in his car, “hustling and bustling” just to get by. For Anthony, attending a four-year college right after high school just did not feel like a realistic option.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Anthony lost his job. He was a husband without work and a father to two little girls who depended on him. Like so many others, he had no backup plan for such a scary situation.

It was around that time when his wife encouraged him to return to school. Together, the couple managed their household and family obligations, while Anthony discovered how to be the light and the guidance he needed in his own life.

Without role models to help them envision a better future, Anthony explained, it can be challenging for socioeconomically disadvantaged kids like him to access higher education. So, he decided to set a good example for himself.

“If you don’t have that reference,” Anthony said, “become that reference for your people. Don’t give up — because it will get better, as long as you believe in yourself and you put in the effort, and then find your community.”

Anthony’s Academic Journey at NMSU Global Campus

Like many students, Anthony had no idea how to approach the college application process. Starting off in community college, however, he began to find his way. “I talked to some of the professors and advisors,” he recalled. “They had really unique classes for sociology, which I really liked, and it just resonated with me.”

Later, Anthony pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at NMSU Global Campus. In particular, it was the flexibility of the Sociology program’s asynchronous, online coursework that piqued his interest. “When it came time to pursue higher education, NMSU just really fit everything I needed,” he enthused. “Everything was online.”

Persevering in school “was difficult at times,” Anthony admitted, “but after six years in college and four associate degrees and now my bachelor’s, it really paid off. I’m happy that I took the time and effort to put into myself. NMSU was a big part of that for me, finding the people I connected with, the professors, the faculty, the other students.”

At NMSU Global Campus, Anthony worked hard to keep his GPA at a scholarship-qualifying level, put in extra hours volunteering for Sociology department events, and sacrificed personal time with family and friends to dedicate those hours to his academic efforts.

A Supportive Online Learning Community Kept Anthony on Track

New Mexico State University’s caring faculty and advising staff helped Anthony feel supported and continue his academic progress when, at the start of his first semester, he faced a tough emotional hurdle: the loss of his beloved grandmother, for whom he had been a caregiver.

“What kept me going was I really found a sense of community at NMSU Global Campus,” Anthony recalled. “From the professors to the faculty to even my fellow classmates, everyone reached out to me and said, ‘Whatever you need, please let us know.'”

Financial aid assistance was also essential to help Anthony complete his online sociology degree. ¹ “I actually was very fortunate to be able to take part in the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship and the New Mexico Lottery Scholarship,” he enthused. ²

“By the time I ended my first semester here,” Anthony recalled, “I knew I’d made the best choice for me because I found people that I could be myself with. And I felt seen. I felt heard. I felt understood in classes and in interactions with the faculty.”

Ready to Start Your Own Online Degree?

Follow in the footsteps of successful NMSU Global Campus graduates like Anthony R., Class of 2025, and discover an online degree that works for you.

At NMSU Global Campus, the online application process is easy, takes only about 10 to 15 minutes, and your first application is free! ³ Apply today.

References

1. “Financial Aid at NMSU Global Campus: What You Need to Know Before You Apply.” NMSU Global Campus Blog, 30 October 2025.

2. “New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship.” NMSU Global Campus, 2025.

3. “3 Easy Tips to Help You Complete Your Application to NMSU Global Campus.” NMSU Global Campus Blog, 9 June 2025.