Scholarship and Grant Opportunities in New Mexico
Get Paid for Being a Standout Student
The New Mexico Higher Education Department administers New Mexico's state-funded scholarships and grants. The state college and university system is comprised of public and private two-year and four-year schools, community colleges, and technical or professional schools.
Lottery Success Scholarships provide thousands of New Mexico students with generous funding for their college educations. Program such as this prove the success of state lottery programs. Eligible students must be state residents, enrolled in a public college or university in New Mexico and have a GPA of at least 2.5. Apply directly through the school.
New Mexico students with economic need have a number of state-funded scholarships and grants available to them:
- More and more college students are falling under the heading of non-traditional. These students tend to be adults who have been displaced from higher education for any number of factors. Non-traditional students often face challenges in locating the necessary funding to return to college. In response the state of New Mexico recently established the College Affordability Grant that offers the non-traditional student a financial leg up as well as any other type of student who is not eligible to receive other state scholarships or grants. Applicants must be able to prove financial need. Apply directly through the school and complete a FAFSA.
- For financially disadvantaged students interested in attending one of New Mexico's public colleges or universities, or one of another half-dozen independent or technical institutions, may qualify to receive funding between $200 and $2500 annually from the New Mexico Student Incentive Grant.
- The state Legislative Endowment Grant is just one other option for economically disadvantaged students to defray the high cost of college. Eligible students must fill out the FAFSA and be attending a public college or university in the state. Award maximum is $2500. Students may attend full-time or part-time.
New Mexico students considering attending the College of Santa Fe, College of the Southwest or St. John's College, may qualify for the Student Choice Grant. Eligible applicants must be able to prove dire economic need. Apply directly through the school and by filling out the FAFSA.
Every state hopes to retain their most talented students in the hopes that if they study at home, they will become high achievers and leaders within their professions, in the long run helping to build a stronger state economy. In such hopes the State of New Mexico administers the New Mexico Scholars program. Students must be state residents and interested in attending one of the state's public colleges or universities. Recipients may receive funding for full tuition, renewable if high academic standards are maintained.
In contrast to the New Mexico Scholars, the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship rewards the highest academic achievers, but scholars may attend college anywhere in the United States. Unfortunately the awards are not nearly as attractive as the former, but eligible students also win just with the notoriety of the program. The federally funded scholarship offers the eligible academic upper crust scholarships up to $1500 per academic year. Dozens of graduating high school seniors are chosen each year from every state. Superior GPAs, top scores in ACT/SAT exams and leadership capabilities, are all typical criteria. Students pursuing college programs at a military academy are not eligible.
Out of state academic achievers are also eligible for New Mexico scholarships. The Competitive Scholarship awards eligible non-residents small stipends and resident tuitions if they attend a NM public institution. Apply directly through the school.
Vietnam Veterans may qualify for a tuition waiver at any of the state colleges or universities through the Vietnam Veteran's Scholarship.
Specialized Studies Programs
For students pursuing teaching careers or a health profession, the State of New Mexico provides a number of "loan-for-service" programs. Students participating in these programs are typically required to exchange work in an underserved or shortage area after graduation:
- New Mexico's Teacher Loan-for-Service Program provides attractive tuition funding for those undergraduate or graduate level teaching students who are willing to commit to teaching in a state public school system following graduation. Eligible recipients must show both academic merit and financial need for funds. Apply by filling out the FAFSA and through the school. See other national teaching scholarships.
- New Mexico students interested in pursuing a degree in nursing may explore the merits of the Nursing Loan-for-Service Program. Eligible students must be attending a state college or university and willing to exchange tuition expenses for a specified length of time working as a nurse in an underserved area following graduation. Nursing students must also prove financial need and academic merit. Apply by filling out the FAFSA and directly through the school. See other national nursing scholarships.
- The Allied Health Professionals Loan-for-Service Program provides tuition costs to those in-state students pursuing applicable health professions at a state college or university.
- Medical students enrolled in the University of New Mexico's School of Medicine may be eligible for the Medical Loan-for-Service Program. Medical students must be state residents, show financial need as well as academic merit and be willing to practice in an underserved area of New Mexico following graduation. See other national medical scholarships.
All financial aid details can be accessed in their entirety, with applications, located at the New Mexico Higher Education Department website.
