Important Note: New Mexico postsecondary institutions have different criteria for accessing this scholarship money(different admission deadlines for receiving these awards, semesters in which these awards can be used, exams that must be taken prior to receiving the awards, financial aide applications that must be completed prior to receiving the awards etc.). Students should check with the post-secondary institution to which they are applying for scholarship criteria.
First Semester Scholarship
Students have an opportunity to earn a first-semester scholarship to New Mexico public post-secondary institutions of higher education. Post-secondary schools have different titles for this first-semester scholarship (e.g., Bridge Scholarship, NM Lottery Success Scholarship, NM Legislative Lottery Scholarship).
To earn this scholarship, students must:
- be a New Mexico high school graduate
- have a high school GPA as determined by the post-secondary institution
- be a New Mexico resident
- complete admission requirements and be admitted to a New Mexico public post-secondary institution of higher education and
- enroll in a degree-granting program with at least 12 credit hours
Lottery Scholarship
The New Mexico State Lottery Scholarship is a tuition scholarship for New Mexico high school graduates attending a New Mexico public post-secondary institution of higher education. The scholarship covers tuition (not including fees). It is available for up to 8 consecutive semesters or until the student graduates, whichever comes first. Only 4 semesters may be used at a two-year institution. In order to qualify for the Lottery Scholarship you must (at minimum):
- be a New Mexico high school graduate
- be a New Mexico resident
- have had full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours-Fall/Spring) at an NM public post-secondary institution of higher education the semester immediately following graduation, and
- maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA and be enrolled for a minimum of 12 hours each semester, excluding summer
