6-17-2021 1:21am

New Mexico Lottery Scholarships Fully Funded

Chris Edwards Editor

The New Mexico's lottery scholarship program for the next academic year will cover full tuition for eligible in-state students at public and tribal colleges and universities for the first time since 2015 the state Higher Education Department announced last week.

The scholarship will be funded at $63.5 million in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, a 30% increase, with the additional money coming from several sources, officials said last week.

The New Mexico Legislative Lottery Scholarship will pay full tuition (up to an undergraduate degree) in 2021/22 for students who meet the eligibility criteria listed below.

Eligibility:

Student must be a resident of New Mexico.

Student must have graduated from a public or accredited private New Mexico high school, completed requirements as a home-schooled student registered with the New Mexico Public Education Department, or received a high school equivalency credential recognized by the state of New Mexico while maintaining residency in New Mexico.

Student must enroll full-time at a public post-secondary educational institution in New Mexico within sixteen months of graduation or receipt of a high equivalency credential and maintain continuous full-time enrollment. First time enrollment within the sixteen-month period following graduation must be at a New Mexico public post-secondary educational institution. If the student enrolls full-time at ANY out of state institution or private in-state institution the student shall forfeit eligibility.

Student must enroll in and earn 15 credit hours per semester at a four-year New Mexico public university.

Student must enroll in and earn 12 credit hours per semester at a two- year New Mexico public community college.

Student must maintain a 2.5 or greater cumulative grade point average (GPA) each semester of enrollment.

Students with disabilities may qualify for reduced credit hour requirements and additional semesters of the scholarship.

Award:

A flat award based on the type of institution the student attends (Research; Comprehensive; or Community College). NMHED will notify institutions of the award for the upcoming academic year by June 1.

Duration:

The initial scholarship shall begin with the second semester of enrollment at a public postsecondary educational institution. Thereafter, the scholarship is renewed on a per-semester basis subject to maintaining eligibility. Students must remain consecutively enrolled each fall and spring semester to maintain eligibility for the scholarship. The scholarship may be renewed at a four-year institution until the award recipient has received seven (7) semesters of scholarship awards or until the student graduates with a bachelor’s degree, whichever is sooner. Students attending a community college are eligible for three (3) semesters of scholarship awards. The student should contact their public post-secondary educational institution’s financial aid advisor for eligibility verification if they have met the first semester eligibility requirements listed above.

How To Apply:

Student shall contact their public post-secondary educational institution’s financial aid advisor for eligibility verification (no application needed).

When To Apply:

Student shall contact their public post-secondary educational institution for eligibility period.

Where To Apply:

Legislative Lottery Scholarship eligibility is determined by the public post-secondary educational institution. Please contact your educational institution for details.

About 20% of college students enrolled in New Mexico received the Lottery Scholarship during the 2019-2020 school year.

For more information about scholarships in the state, click here.