STATE OF NEW MEXICO FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS
For more detailed information on state financial aid programs contact:
New Mexico Commission on Higher Education1068 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87505-1650
(505) 476-6500
Hotline 800-279-9777
The following are financial aid programs available to students who are residents of New Mexico.
Legislative Lottery Scholarship (Formerly known as the Lottery Success Scholarship)
The Legislative Lottery Scholarship helps pay tuition expenses for New Mexico high school graduates (or GED recipients) who plan to attend an eligible New Mexico public college or university.
Students establish eligibility in the first regular semester immediately following their high school graduation and funding begins in the second college semester. To find out more about scholarships for the first regular semester, contact the financial aid or scholarship office at your college or university.
Important changes to the Legislative Lottery Scholarship!
How much is the award?
- Tuition only
- Renewable if student maintains satisfactory progress and full-time status
- May receive scholarship for a total of eight (8) consecutive semesters
What are the eligibility requirements?
- New Mexico residents
- Graduated from a New Mexico public high school, an accredited New Mexico private high school, or have obtained a New Mexico GED.
- Home Schooled students are eligible only if they pass the New Mexico GED.
- Must be enrolled full-time and complete 12 credit hours, and a 2.5 grade point average at an eligible New Mexico public college or university, in the first regular semester immediately following their high school graduation.
- Undergraduate
- Enroll full-time
How do I apply?
Contact the Financial Aid Office at the college or university to inquire about the application process.
When is the deadline?
Deadlines are set by each institution.
New Mexico Scholars
PurposeThe New Mexico Scholars Program was created to encourage New Mexico high school students to attend public post-secondary institutions or the following private colleges in New Mexico:
College of Santa Fe
St. John's College
College of the Southwest
How much is the award?
- Tuition, fees, and books
- Renewable if student meets eligibility requirements
- May receive scholarship no more than 4 years
What are the eligibility requirements?
- New Mexico residents
- Graduate from New Mexico high school in the top 5% of their class or score 25 on ACT
- Attend eligible college of university by the end of 21st birthday
- Undergraduate
- Enroll full-time
- Combined family income may not exceed $30,000 per year
- If 2 or more family members are in college, combined family income may not exceed $40,000 per year
How do I apply?
Contact the Financial Aid Office at the college or university to inquire about the application process.
Each applicant is required to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
When is the deadline?
Deadlines are set by each institution.
Legislative Endowment Scholarship
PurposeLegislative Endowment Scholarships provide aid for undergraduate students with substantial financial need who are attending public post-secondary institutions in New Mexico.
How much is the award?
- Four-year schools may award up to $2,500 per academic year.
- Two-year schools may award up to $1,000 per academic year.
- Renewable if student maintains satisfactory progress
What are the eligibility requirements?
- New Mexico residents
- Attend a public, post-secondary institution in New Mexico
- Undergraduate
- Enroll at least half-time
- Demonstrate financial need
How do I apply?
Contact the Financial Aid Office at the college or university to inquire about the application process.
Each applicant is required to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
When is the deadline?
Deadlines are set by each institution.
New Mexico Competitive Scholarship
Purpose
Competitive Scholarships were created to encourage out-of-state students, who have demonstrated high academic achievement in high school, to enroll in public 4-year universities in New Mexico.
How much is the award?
Recipients of at least $100 in Competitive Scholarship funds per semester are eligible for resident tuition and fees.
Renewable for up to 4 years.
What are the eligibility requirements?
- Non-resident or non-citizen of the United States
- Attend a public 4-year university in New Mexico
- Undergraduate
- Enroll full-time
Additional criteria for Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico Highlands University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, and Western New Mexico University:
High School GPA:
3.5 or higher - ACT: 20 or higher, or SAT equivalent
3.0 or higher - ACT 23 or higher, or SAT equivalent
Additional criteria for University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University:
High School GPA:
3.5 or higher - ACT 23 or higher, or SAT equivalent
3.0 or higher - ACT 26 or higher, or SAT equivalent
How do I apply?
Contact the Financial Aid Office at the college or university to inquire about the application process.
When is the deadline?
Deadlines are set by each institution.
Vietnam Veterans’ Scholarship
PurposeThe Vietnam Veterans' Scholarship Program was created to provide aid for Vietnam veterans who are undergraduate and graduate students attending public post-secondary institutions or select private colleges in New Mexico.
College of Santa Fe
St. John's College
College of the Southwest
*Awards given to private colleges will not exceed an amount equal to the resident tuition rates charged by a public post-secondary institution.
How much is the award?
- Tuition, required fees, and required books
- Renewable if student maintains satisfactory progress
What are the eligibility requirements?
- honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States
- resident of New Mexico at original time of entry into the armed forces or who has lived in New Mexico for ten years or more
- has been awarded a Vietnam campaign medal for services in Vietnam during the period of August 5, 1964 to the official termination of the Vietnam conflict
- Undergraduate or graduate
How do I apply?
Contact the New Mexico Veterans' Service Commission at 1-505-827-6300 or the Financial Aid Office at any New Mexico public or eligible private institution.
When is the deadline?
Deadlines are set by each institution.
New Mexico Legislative Scholarship at NMMI - in honor of General Richard T. Knowles, US Army (Ret)
The Legislative Scholarship is available only to New Mexico Military Institute cadets.Recent Legislative Scholarship Recipients
The General Richard T. Knowles Legislative Scholarship program allows each of New Mexico's 112 legislators to nominate a student from their district for scholarship consideration. In addition, non-selected applicants may be eligible to receive an un-awarded legislative scholarship in an open contiguous district. A student awarded the Legislative Scholarship may receive the award for up to four years.
Am I eligible to apply?
You must have applied for admission into NMMI before or concurrent to submitting an application for the Legislative Scholarship. You do not have to be accepted into NMMI when you apply for the Legislative Scholarship, but we must have your application on file. The fastest and easiest way to apply for admission is to apply online.
Criteria for the Legislative Scholarship is as follows:
- If you are entering the 9th or 10th grade you must have a 2.5 or higher grade point average.
- If you are entering 11th or 12th grade you must have a 2.25 or higher grade point average.
- If you are entering junior college, you must have a 2.0 or higher grade point average for all high school core courses and a 18+ ACT score or a 870+ SAT score.
YOU MUST BE A NEW MEXICO RESIDENT!
When can I apply?
Applications for first round selection are due March 1 to the Legislative Scholarship Coordinator, Cindy Gomez.
Award winners will be notified on or after April 15.
If you were not awarded the scholarship in the first round we will send your application to your other district legislator or attempt to find an open contiguous district and send your application to that legislator for consideration.
If you are applying for admission for a spring semester, you may attempt to apply for a Legislative Scholarship by December 1. If your district is open we will submit your application for consideration. Scholarships awarded in the spring semester are subject to availability and restrictions and there is no guarantee made thereof. Contact Cindy Gomez for additional information.
What does the application process entail?
To apply for the Legislative Scholarship make sure that you have first submitted an application for admission into NMMI.
Next you will need to fill out the Legislative Scholarship application If you do not have a Legislative Scholarship application, please contact the Admissions Office and we will mail one to you or you may download one online. Please type or very neatly handwrite your application.
With your Legislative Scholarship application, please include the following documents:
- A typed autobiographical essay of at least 250 words. Please proof read carefully for spelling and grammar mistakes as your nominating legislator will read this essay.
- A small (wallet size) recent picture.
- Three Letters of Recommendation from teachers, coaches, club or youth group leaders, civic leaders or others who know you well.
- A complete transcript indicating your cumulative grade point average from 7th grade to the current semester.
Please send your application packet to:
New Mexico Military Institute
Offices of Admissions
Attention: Cindy Gomez
101 West College Blvd.
Roswell, NM 88201
Once we receive your complete application packet we will create a file for you. Next we will send your file to one of your district legislators. The legislator will review all of the applications from his or her district, make a selection and notify the Legislative Scholarship Coordinator. The Legislative Scholarship Coordinator will then notify you that you have been nominated to receive the scholarship. When you confirm your acceptance of the scholarship, the Legislative Scholarship Coordinator will notify the Office of Financial Aid to disperse funds into your scholarship account at the appropriate time.
If you are not selected by your district legislator we will submit your application to your other district legislator or to a legislator in a contagious district. This process will continue until all available districts have been awarded.
If you are an alternate for a district and the original recipient departs NMMI before the third Friday after classes start, you will be eligible to receive that scholarship and will be notified.
If you still have not received a nomination for a Legislative Scholarship, you can be reconsidered for the next fall semester awarding cycle. Please contact Cindy Gomez to have your file transferred to the next cycle. It is highly encouraged that you submit a new autobiographical essay and letters of recommendation at this time as well.
What is the award amount?
The General Richard T. Knowles Legislative Scholarship covers the cost to tuition, fees and an amount applied towards other expenses at NMMI (roughly $3,600.) The Scholarship may be automatically renewed for a total of four years if the student maintains satisfactory academic progress towards graduation and acceptable performance in the NMMI Corps of Cadets among other requirements.
How can I get an application?
You can receive additional information about the Legislative Scholarship and an application by contacting the Office of Admissions at 1-800-421-5376 or contacting the Legislative Scholarship Coordinator. You may also download the application.
How can I find out who my legislators are?
You can find out who your legislators are by calling your local County Clerk's office and providing your address. You can also visit the New Mexico State Legislature Web site and click on Find Your Legislator and provide your zip code. This is also a great resource to learn more about the legislature and how it operates.
I don't qualify for the Legislative Scholarship. What other scholarships are available?
There are many opportunities to receive scholarships at NMMI for both college and high school cadets. There are a total of 176 scholarship (excluding the 112 Legislative Scholarships.) There are approximately 30 scholarships solely intended for in-state cadets and approximately 25 solely intended for out-of-state cadets. There are around 20 scholarship that are intended for college cadets specifically. To apply for scholarships other than the Legislative Scholarship, all you need to do is apply for admission online. Once you have applied and been accepted to attend NMMI you will automatically be considered for scholarships. Please visit the Financial Aid Web site for more information or call the Office of Financial Aid at (575) 624-8066.
State Financial Aid Information
Find state financial aid information for the specific state that you live in. Find contact information for your local federal aid office, and get details about specific federal aid programs in your area.
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