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

Gov. Lujan Grisham signs legislation expanding tuition-free college, university research and more

Mar 18, 2024

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed five bills into law that sustain and expand tuition-free college, fund university research, support students in career training programs and adopt affirmative consent policies on college campuses. 

“By signing these key bills, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has ensured that New Mexico continues to be a leader in higher education. With these five new laws, we’re making college more accessible and affordable, supporting our workforce, keeping our state at the forefront of innovation and making sure campuses are safe. We’re giving every student the chance to succeed and grow right here,” said Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez.  

Senate Bill 159: Higher Education Trust Fund (Sen. Pete Campos)
Creates the nation’s largest trust fund for tuition-free college at $959 million via the Tax Stabilization Fund to sustain funding for the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships for the foreseeable future. An initial distribution of $47.95 million will be made to the program fund in FY25. The Opportunity Scholarship currently supports over 42,000 students and the Lottery Scholarship supports around 10,000 each year. 

Senate Bill 239: Opportunity and Lottery Scholarship Changes (Sen. George K. Muñoz and Sen. Siah Correa Hemphill) 
Adjusts eligibility criteria for the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships to provide more flexibility for students to meet credit hour requirements over a full academic year rather than per semester and allows the Lottery Scholarship to cover summer classes. The law also removes college credits earned by high school students under the dual credit program from counting toward the credit hour cap for the Opportunity Scholarship. 

House Bill 303: Workforce Training Funds Pilot (Rep. Linda Serrato and Rep. Cristina Parajón) 
Makes New Mexico the first state to develop a pilot program to provide stipends to low-income adult education students enrolled integrated education and training (IET) programs. IET programs prepare New Mexico adults to earn a high school equivalency credential or improve English language skills while earning an industry-recognized credential in a high-demand field at the same time. Areas of focus can include health care, construction, early childhood education, renewable energy, broadband expansion, agriculture and more. The pilot will promote access and completion in these programs. Gov. Lujan Grisham approved a total $6 million over the next three years to support IET programs, which will also fund the pilot.

House Bill 270: Higher Education Technology Enhancement Fund (Rep. Joseph L. Sanchez, Rep. Gail Armstrong, Rep. Tara L. Lujan, Rep. Art De La Cruz and Rep. Meredith A. Dixon) 
Makes updates to the New Mexico Higher Education Department’s Technology Enhancement Fund (TEF). Provisions and requires project proposals to be evaluated on their benefits for economic development, workforce education as well as rural and tribal communities. The TEF makes matching funds available to public research universities competing for federal grants supporting research in key areas including medicine, agriculture, STEM and others. A committee made up of science and business experts review and score projects as part of a competitive application process. The University of New Mexico, Navajo Technical University, New Mexico State University and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology will be eligible for these funds. Gov. Lujan Grisham approved $25 million for the TEF in FY25.

House Bill 151: Post-Secondary Affirmative Consent (Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson, Rep. Charlotte Little, Rep. Andrea Romero, Rep. Yanira Gurrola and Rep. Gail Chasey) 

Requires public and private colleges and universities in New Mexico to adopt policies and trauma-informed responses that address affirmative consent or a “yes means yes” standard and prevent sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, harassment and stalking on- and off-campus. Colleges and universities must also provide comprehensive prevention and outreach and adopt detailed, trauma-informed procedures for investigation and discipline related to incidents.