Tuition-free college for New Mexicans.
With the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, there are options for New Mexicans to pursue college and career training without worrying about the cost of tuition and fees.
Tuition-free college for New Mexicans.
With the New Mexico Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, there are options for New Mexicans to pursue college and career training without worrying about the cost of tuition and fees.
What is tuition-free higher education?
With the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, New Mexico is home to the most generous and inclusive tuition-free college program in the United States!
New Mexico is increasing access to college degrees and career training programs, limiting or eliminating student debt, and promoting family and economic prosperity to strengthen our communities and state.
History
New Mexico was the first state in the nation to implement a tuition-free college program in 1996 with the Lottery Scholarship, which provides tuition-free college to recent high school graduates.
New Mexico was the first state in the nation to implement a tuition-free college program in 1996 with the Lottery Scholarship, which provides tuition-free college to recent high school graduates.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham expanded tuition-free college to more New Mexicans with the Opportunity Scholarship, which was created as a budget item in 2020 and made the program permanent by law in 2022.
The Opportunity Scholarship led to the first enrollment increase in New Mexico in more than a decade, with statewide enrollment increasing by nearly ten percent. New Mexico ranked second for enrollment increases nationwide in Fall of 2022, countering a national trend of declining college enrollment.
Over 46,000 scholarships have been awarded in every region of the state to students pursuing career training certificates, two-year degrees and four-year degrees.
The Opportunity Scholarship is fully funded and ready to help tens of thousands of students pursue their college and career.
“For over a quarter of a century, New Mexico has been a national leader in providing free college to its residents. A fully funded Opportunity Scholarship opens the door for every New Mexican to reach higher, strengthening our economy, our families and our communities. Signing this legislation sends a clear message to New Mexicans that we believe in them and the contributions they will make for their families and the future of our great state.” – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
In the News
In race for tuition-free college, New Mexico stakes a claim
Source: The Seattle Times ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — As universities across the United States face steep enrollment declines, New Mexico’s government is embarking on a pioneering experiment to fight that trend: tuition-free higher education for all state residents. After...
New Mexico Will Make College Tuition Free for Residents – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Source: New York Times ALBUQUERQUE — As universities across the United States face steep enrollment declines, New Mexico’s government is embarking on a pioneering experiment to fight that trend: tuition-free higher education for all state residents. After President...
New funding expands access to higher education in New Mexico
Source: KOB ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – This March, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law more funding for the Opportunity Scholarship to ensure more New Mexico students would have their tuition and fees covered. "Finances tend to be the number one item for students...
New Mexico has one of the most generous ‘free tuition’ programs, but there are limits
Source: WAMU 88.5 New Mexico is the latest of more than 33 states to offer free college tuition in some form. Their benefits are more generous than most, but only last for a year.
New Mexico Governor Signed a Bill Making College Tuition-Free For High School Graduates and Adult Learners
Source: mitú It goes without saying that there is a student debt crisis in the U.S. Right now, Americans owe approximately $1.8 trillion dollars in student loans. And if something doesn’t change, those numbers will just keep climbing. But luckily, New Mexico...