Skip To Content

Reach Higher New Mexico

Not sure where to begin? We can help!

To get started let's answer a few questions. Do any of these apply to you within the last 18 months?

  • I graduated from high school
  • I completed a high school equivalency credential
  • I was honorably discharged from the military

Yes No

It looks like you are considered a recent high school graduate.

The Lottery Scholarship, New Mexico’s first tuition-free college program, covers 100% of tuition for recent New Mexico high school graduates.

Click here to learn more about scholarship options for you!
Do you plan on enrolling in a for-credit certificate, two-year, or four-year program at a public college or university in New Mexico?

Yes No

New Mexico state scholarship programs can only be used at public colleges or universities in New Mexico.

New Mexico state scholarship programs can only be used toward for-credit certificate and degree programs at one of the 29 participating public colleges and universities in the state.

Click here to view participating schools.
Do any of these apply to you?
  • I have already earned a bachelor's degree
  • I have 160 credit hours or more on my transcript from previous college attendance

Yes No

The New Mexico Lottery and Opportunity Scholarships are for students who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree and who have fewer than 160 credit hours on their transcript.

However, we encourage you to explore our loan-for-service and loan repayment plans:

  • Click here to view New Mexico Loan-for-Service Programs
  • Click here to view New Mexico Loan Repayment Programs
It looks like you are considered a returning adult student.

The Opportunity Scholarship makes it possible for you to pursue a college degree or career training certificate, even if you are starting college for the first time later in life, or going back after many years.

Click here to learn more about scholarship options for you!
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow

Reach Higher New Mexico

  • Home
  • Info for Students
    • Returning Students
    • Recent High School Graduates
    • I am not sure
  • Scholarships
    • Opportunity Scholarship
    • Lottery Scholarship
  • FAQs
  • About
  • In the News
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Info for Students
    • Returning Students
    • Recent High School Graduates
    • I am not sure
  • Scholarships
    • Opportunity Scholarship
    • Lottery Scholarship
  • FAQs
  • About
  • In the News
  • Contact

College in New Mexico Is Now Tuition-Free, Even if You’re a Part-Time Student

by Real Time Solutions | Mar 10, 2022 | In the News

Source: My Modern Met Since the 1980s, the cost of going to college has increased at eight times the rate of rises in wages. So, the old adage of working a part-time job and graduating debt-free is about as useful or realistic in the modern world as relying on a fax...

New Mexico passes most expansive higher education program in nation, offers free in-state tuition

by Real Time Solutions | Mar 9, 2022 | In the News

Source: DAILY KOS In an exciting move for education, one state has declared college to be tuition-free for most of its residents. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 140, the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship Act, on Friday. According to  CNN,...

College In New Mexico Is Now Tuition-Free, Even For Part-Time Students

by Real Time Solutions | Mar 9, 2022 | In the News

It’s the most wide-reaching tuition-free scholarship program in the United States, according to the office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. According to the governor’s office, the program is the most wide-reaching tuition-free scholarship program in the...

Expanded college opportunity benefits entire state

by Real Time Solutions | Mar 8, 2022 | In the News

Source: The Santa Fe New Mexican The decision to make college virtually tuition-free for most New Mexicans will pay dividends for the state for years. That is, so long as the state can keep paying tuition and fees while also reining in the urge of college and...

New Mexico Introduces A Strong Free College Program, Will More States Follow?

by Real Time Solutions | Mar 8, 2022 | In the News

Source: Forbes Free college proposals are stalled out at the federal level, with it seeming increasingly unlikely that a federal free college program will get passed before the midterms. The states are still working to introduce new promise programs to support...

New Mexico’s governor just signed a bill to make college tuition-free

by Real Time Solutions | Mar 7, 2022 | In the News

Source: CNN (CNN)For most New Mexico residents, college will now be officially tuition-free. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed on Friday Senate Bill 140, otherwise known as the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship Act. First introduced in 2019, the plan will...
« Older Entries
Next Entries »

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries please contact Stephanie J. Montoya at stephanie.j.montoya@state.nm.us.

Recent Posts

  • New Mexico Is the First State To Implement Free College Education
  • New Mexico boosts its free college program, at least for now
  • 3 Good Things: Sniff test, winds of change and free college
  • New Mexico offers free tuition at public colleges and universities
  • The US is facing an enrolment and student debt crisis. Is free tuition the answer?

Student Testimonials

"The Opportunity Scholarship made school more appealing and easier to manage. The financial stability it has given me has allowed more funds for things like food and other necessities, and it has given me more time for extracurricular activities since I don’t have to take on a second job in addition to work-study."

–  Celia Chavez, Early Childhood Education Student
New Mexico State University

“The Opportunity Scholarship has really set up my future. After taking a gap year I lost the Lottery Scholarship and did not go back. In Fall of 2022, I decided to return to attend CNM after seeing I was eligible for the Opportunity Scholarship. I get to focus on my education and not worry about the finances to pay for it. After receiving my associate’s, I plan to transfer to UNM to study and start a career in graphic design.”

– Analise Rusk, Computer Information Systems Student
Central New Mexico Community College

“The Opportunity Scholarship has benefited and enabled me to attend ENMU near my hometown absolutely free and without debt. Now with The Opportunity Scholarship and Lottery Scholarship, I can focus on my education. I’m proud to say I will be the first person in my family to graduate college after obtaining my bachelor’s degree, I plan to remain in New Mexico and go into broadcast journalism.”

– Payton Santillanes, Journalism Student
Eastern New Mexico University

"I opted to enroll at NMSU where I received both the Opportunity Scholarship and the Lottery. All of my financial needs have been met I eventually hope to get my master’s degree in athletic training and work as an athletic trainer at the NCAA and professional level.”

– Aileen Guttierez, Kinesiology and Exercise Student
New Mexico State University

“With The Opportunity Scholarship and Lottery Scholarship I am able to attend CNM without having to pay out of pocket for fees. After completing my Associate’s in Business at CNM, I plan on transferring to a four-year university and possibly open my own business one day.”

– Adriana Naranjo, Business Student
Central New Mexico Community College

"Thanks to the Opportunity Scholarship, I didn’t have to pursue a full-time job and am able to do more in the classroom, like earn a 3.9 GPA, participate in on campus organizations, and tutor other students. Because of this scholarship, I’m going to be the first person in my family to graduate from college!"

– Rodrigo Zapata, Civil Engineering Student
New Mexico Tech

"The Opportunity Scholarship has made my financial situation easier to overcome since I have to pay for gas to drive 80 miles to and from campus. This scholarship means making someone’s dream come true and not having so much anxiety. It’s nice to know that someone cares about my education."

– Strawberry Livingston, Mechanical Engineering Student
Navajo Technical University

"The Opportunity Scholarship was the difference between me pursing my dreams or not. I am going to school to show my children that they can dream bigger and have greater goals. Our state has a stigma, but this scholarship can turn things around for New Mexico. It is a giant leap in the right direction!"

– Candice Clark, Student
Central New Mexico Community College

"The Opportunity Scholarship has allowed me to return to school where I can not only focus on my studies, but also on being a mother. After an almost eight-year hiatus from the classroom, I can now return to focus on my goal of getting my degree in social work and eventually my master's so I can go on to serve as a therapist right here in New Mexico."

– Evelyn Mendez, Social Work Student
 Southeast New Mexico College
PreviousNext
123456789

Reach Higher New Mexico

Copyright 2022 | All Rights Reserved | Paid for by Reach Higher New Mexico

Manage Consent
We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Preferences
{title} {title} {title}