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:

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!

Reach Higher New Mexico

New Mexico college enrollment on the rise for second year in a row thanks to Opportunity Scholarship

Oct 24, 2023

Over 11,000 first-time, full-time students pursuing higher education

College and university enrollment is up again in New Mexico, according to data released by the Higher Education Department on Tuesday, due in large part to the nation’s most expansive college enrollment program. 

Over 110,000 New Mexicans are pursuing career training certificates, associate, bachelor’s and graduate degrees at state public and tribal colleges and universities, an increase of 2.3 percent over last year. Over 11,000 New Mexicans are pursuing higher education for the first time and as full-time students.  

“As the tuition-free-college capital of the United States, New Mexico is setting the bar for what it looks like when states support working families, build up the workforce and grow the economy,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “Investing in our young professionals is investing in our future.”  

“While the rest of the country grapples with questions about college affordability and access, particularly in the wake of recent Supreme Court decisions, New Mexico stands apart as a state dedicated to opportunity. Every student walking through the doors of our college and university campuses holds the key to our state’s future. We are committed to ensuring they make it to graduation day, into the workforce, and contribute to thriving communities” said Acting Higher Education Secretary Patricia Trujillo, Ph.D.  

Since the enactment of the Opportunity Scholarship Act in 2022, New Mexico has enrolled an additional 6,700 students, a nearly 7 percent enrollment increase over the last two years.  

Prior to the Opportunity Scholarship, New Mexico college enrollment showed steady declines like the rest of the country. During the first semester of the full Opportunity Scholarship last fall, overall college enrollment jumped by four percent and the state experienced a six percent jump from spring to spring.  

This year, New Mexico’s comprehensive universities saw the most significant year-over-year enrollment growth at 5.6 percent, followed by branch community colleges at 5 percent. New Mexico’s three research universities (UNM, NMSU and New Mexico Tech) and Tribal colleges saw 3.2 percent increases. Navajo Technical University and Northern New Mexico College experienced the highest year-over-year increases at 14.8 percent and 12 percent respectively out of all individual institutions. 


Other highlights include the University of New Mexico welcoming its largest freshman class in history for the second consecutive year and New Mexico State University’s fully online campus – NMSU Global – adding 2,100 new students, a 32.8 percent increase.  

“With the Opportunity Scholarship, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has taken bold steps to ensure that higher education is within reach for all its residents, particularly those in rural areas who face unique challenges. In a world where college costs are skyrocketing, New Mexico stands out as a model of success. Enrollment numbers are continuing to go up, and it looks as though they aren’t stopping,” said Maureen Hoyler, Immediate Past President of the Council for Opportunity in Education, a national nonprofit dedicated to furthering the expansion of college opportunities forlow-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities.   

The state’s independent community colleges were the only group to show a decline at -1.1 percent compared to last year. This is due in part to Southeast New Mexico College losing enrollment of NMSU online students during the college’s transition away from the New Mexico State University System and to enrollment declines at Mesalands Community College, which is currently experiencing financial distress.   

Since 2022, tuition-free college through the state’s Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships has been fully funded for eligible state residents, benefitting nearly 40,000 undergraduate students each year.  

The Higher Education Department launched a statewide college recruitment campaign this summer to encourage New Mexicans to enroll in college that featured ads in local movie theaters, newspapers, radio stations, and online. The state also launched ReachHigherNM.com, a one-stop online resource to help prospective students access state scholarship programs and enroll in the state’s 29 participating colleges and universities.