NSBE's mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.

NSBE's 26,000+ members are divided up into more than 270 chapters on college and university campuses, 75 Alumni Extension chapters nationwide and 75 Pre-College chapters.

These chapters are also further geographically divided into six regions. NSBE had its genesis at a national conference planned and hosted by the Society of Black Engineers at Purdue University in April 1975.

Black Engineering students from the United States and Canada attended the event. From this meeting of concerned students and educators, NSBE was born.