FAQ: NEW MEXICO
OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP
What is the New Mexico Opportunity
Scholarship?
Established by Gov. Lujan Grisham in 2020, the
Opportunity Scholarship covers tuition and
required fees for eligible New Mexico residents
pursuing career training certicates, associate
degrees, and bachelor’s degrees at New Mexico
public colleges and universities.
Do I qualify for the Opportunity
Scholarship?
If you are an established New Mexico resident and
plan to enroll in at least six credit hours at a public
college or university in New Mexico toward a
training certicate, associate degree, or bachelor’s
degree, you may qualify.
How do I apply for the Opportunity
Scholarship?
There is no application for the scholarship. If you
are an eligible student enrolled in a New Mexico
public college or university, the nancial aid
ofce at your school will work with you to award
the scholarship.
What does the Opportunity
Scholarship pay for?
The Opportunity Scholarship can be used to cover
up to 100% of tuition and required fees at any New
Mexico public college or university.
Should I still complete my FAFSA if I am
going to receive the Opportunity
Scholarship?
Yes! If you qualify to receive federal aid such as a
Pell Grant, you can put this money toward
other college costs like books, housing,
meal plans, transportation, etc.
Does my school provide the Opportunity
Scholarship?
There are 29 participating two-year and four-year
colleges for this program:
• Central New Mexico Community College
• Clovis Community College
• Diné College
• Doña Ana Community College (NMSU)
• Eastern New Mexico University - Portales
• Eastern New Mexico University - Ruidoso
• Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell
• Institute of American Indian Arts
• Luna Community College
• Mesalands Community College
• Navajo Technical University
• New Mexico Highlands University
• New Mexico Junior College
• New Mexico Military Institute
• New Mexico State University - Las Cruces
• New Mexico State University - Alamogordo
• New Mexico State University - Carlsbad
• New Mexico State University - Grants
• New Mexico Tech
• Northern New Mexico College
• San Juan College
• Santa Fe Community College
• Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute
• The University of New Mexico - Albuquerque
• The University of New Mexico - Los Alamos
• The University of New Mexico- Taos
• The University of New Mexico - Gallup
• The University of New Mexico - Valencia
• Western New Mexico University
I started college but did not nish. Can
I use the Opportunity Scholarship to go
back and nish my degree?
Yes! If you have less than 90 credit hours on your
transcript toward an associate degree or less than
160 toward a bachelor’s degree, you may qualify.
I used to receive the Lottery Scholarship
but lost it. Can I be eligible for the
Opportunity Scholarship?
If you have not yet nished your degree, you may
be eligible if you enroll in at least six credit hours
and maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA going forward.
NEW MEXICO
HIGHER EDUCATION
Fostering Student Success from Cradle to Career
DEPARTMENT
Remember to complete your
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) is your ticket to federal grants,
scholarships, work study, and more. It opens
annually on Oct. 1. Students are strongly
encouraged to complete the FAFSA to receive the
maximum federal and state aid they may qualify for.
at fafsa.gov
FAQ: NEW MEXICO
OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP
Yes, you will need to demonstrate continuous
progress toward your certicate or degree. If a
documented disability or mitigating circumstance
interferes with this requirement, the nancial aid
ofce at your college or university can explore
options with you to maintain future eligibility.
If I do not meet the credit hour or
cumulative GPA requirements, can I
reestablish my eligibility?
If you have not previously received the Opportunity
Scholarship, you may be able to establish eligibility
and begin receiving the scholarship. However, you
must maintain eligibility to continue receiving it.
I need to withdraw. Can I
receive the scholarship again in the
future?
If you withdraw, you will not be eligible to
continue receiving the scholarship. However,
your college or university may be able to work
with you if you experience a hardship
affecting your eligibility. Please contact the
nancial aid ofce at your school directly so
that they can work with you to explore options
for maintaining eligibility.
Does this program require me to enroll
each consecutive semester?
Can I use the scholarship to go to school
in the summer?
I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I still receive
this scholarship?
New Mexico residency is required to be
eligible for the New Mexico Opportunity
Scholarship, but United States citizenship is
not a requirement for this particular
scholarship.
How do I establish New Mexico residency for
purposes of qualifying for state scholarship
programs like the Opportunity Scholarship?
To be considered a New Mexico resident for state
scholarship eligibility, you must be able to prove
that you have lived in New Mexico for the past 12
consecutive months. There are limited exceptions
for Tribal members, active members of the armed
services, and others. You can review complete res-
idency requirements on our website at hed.state.
nm.us.
Yes! The Opportunity Scholarship can be used to
cover the cost of tuition and required fees
associated with courses leading to your certicate
or degree taken during the summer semester.
You will need to enroll in at least three credit
hours.
What certicate programs qualify?
Students enrolled in certain certicate
programs leading to careers in high-need elds
including healthcare, education, STEM, and
technical trades are eligible to receive the
Opportunity Scholarship. The Higher Education
Department will work with the Department of
Workforce Solutions to release a list of eligible
programs each year.
How long can I continue to receive the
scholarship?
As long as you continue to enroll in at least six
credit hours per semester and are progressing
toward an approved training certicate,
associate degree, or bachelor’s degree and
maintain a 2.5 GPA, you can continue to
receive the scholarship. If you are pursuing an
associate degree, you can continue to receive
the scholarship up to your rst associate
degree or completion of 90 credit hours,
whichever comes rst. If you are pursuing a
bachelor’s degree, you can receive the
scholarship up to your rst bachelor’s degree
or 160 credit hours completed, whichever
comes rst.
I am a NM resident, but I plan to enroll at
an out-of-state institution. Is the
scholarship transferable out of state?
The Opportunity Scholarship is only available
to New Mexico residents enrolled in New
Mexico public colleges and universities. It is
not transferable to out-of-state institutions.
NEW MEXICO
HIGHER EDUCATION
Fostering Student Success from Cradle to Career
DEPARTMENT
FAQ: NEW MEXICO
OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP
I am an out of state student attending a
New Mexcio public or Tribal school as a
distance education student. Do I
qualify?
You must be an established New Mexico
resident in order to be eligible for the New
Mexico Opportunity Scholarship. You can see
full information about residency requirements
for college students on our website at hed.
state.nm.us.
What if I want to take classes at two or
more institutions during a semester?
I received a bachelor’s degree in the
past. Can I return to college for a second
bachelor’s degree under this program?
I have already completed a degree and
have student loans. What resources are
available to help with existing student
loans?
If you attained a degree in a high-need eld
and are working in New Mexico, you may
qualify for one of our loan repayment
programs. You can nd more information
about those programs on our website at hed.
state.nm.us
I am a distance education student. Will this
scholarship cover the fees charged for online
courses?
The New Mexico Higher Education Department is
promulgating rules to determine which fees will
be allowable under the Opportunity
Scholarship. The nal rules regarding allowable
expenses will be published by July 1, 2022. The
Opportunity Scholarship will cover tuition for
qualied students enrolled in distance education
courses at New Mexico public colleges and
universities.
The Opportunity Scholarship is only available for
students pursuing their rst bachelor’s degree.
However, if you plan to pursue a second bachelor’s
degree in a high-need workforce eld, you may be
eligible for one of our loan-for-service programs.
You can learn more about these programs on our
website at hed.state.nm.us.
I attend a private post-secondary
institution in New Mexico will I qualify
for this scholarship?
The Opportunity Scholarship is only available
to New Mexico residents enrolled in public
colleges and universities that are funded by
the state of New Mexico.
I was told in the past I did not qualify for
this program. Is it possible I may qualify
now? Have requirements changed?
Contact your nancial aid ofcer or academic
advisor at your school to see if there is a
consortium agreement in place with the other
college or university where you wish to take
classes.
If you did not previously qualify, you may
qualify under the new eligibility criteria and
expansion in funding. If you are an established
New Mexico resident enrolling in at least six
credit hours at a New Mexico public college or
university toward the completion of a
training certicate, associate degree, or
bachelor’s degree, you may qualify. Please
reach out the nancial aid ofce at the college
or university at which you plan to enroll and
they will walk you through the process.
I am incarcerated. Can I receive the
scholarship for online classes?
There is no prohibition for incarcerated
students. Students may receive the
scholarship if other eligibility requirements
are met and there is a no balance of unpaid
tuition and/or fees.
What if I already receive another state
scholarship?
If you receive another state scholarship, it will
be applied rst and then the Opportunity
Scholarship will be applied (not to exceed the
cost of tuition and required fees).
HIGHER EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
NEW MEXICO
HIGHER EDUCATION
Fostering Student Success from Cradle to Career
DEPARTMENT
FAQ: NEW MEXICO
OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP
I am a dual credit student. Can I receive
the Opportunity Scholarship?
No. Dual credit students do not pay tuition.
You must graduate from high school or
receive a high school equivalency credential
(HSE) and enroll as a regular college student
prior to receiving the scholarship.
If I currently attend a community
college and I plan to transfer to a four-
year university, will I continue to receive
the scholarship?
Will the Opportunity Scholarship
cover the rst semester needed to
qualify for the New Mexico Legislative
Lottery Scholarship?
Who can I contact if I still have
questions?
Please contact the Financial Aid Division at
Fin.Aid@state.nm.us or 1-800- 279-9777 or
contact the nancial aid ofce at your college
or university.
When do I have to establish the 2.5 GPA?
You will need to establish a 2.5 cumulative GPA
starting the rst semester you receive the
Opportunity Scholarship and maintain a
cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to continue
receiving it.
If you are a Lottery-eligible student, a bridge
scholarship provided by your school can be used
to cover the cost of tuition during your rst
semester while you establish eligibility.
Is the Opportunity Scholarship available
for international students?
Students must establish residency in New
Mexico and attend an in-state public college
or university. You can review full residency
requirements on our website at hed.state.
nm.us
I received a 2.0 GPA last semester. Do I
qualify for the Opportunity Scholarship
this coming semester?
If you declare a degree path leading to a bache-
lor’s degree upon transferring to a participating
public college or university, you may be eligible to
continue receiving the Opportunity Scholarship
until you complete your rst bachelor’s degree or
complete 160 credit hours, whichever comes rst.
If you have not previously received the
Opportunity Scholarship, you may be able to
establish eligibility this semester by
establishing and maintaining a 2.5 cumulative
GPA. If you have a mitigating circumstance or
documented disability, be sure to notify your
school’s nancial aid ofce right away so that
they can explore options with you to maintain
eligibility.
I am needing to retake a class. Will this
affect my eligibility? Does this count
toward the six credit hours?
Circumstances such as retaking courses will
be addressed in rules promulgated by the
Higher Education Department on or before
July 1, 2022. Students with mitigating
circumstances should contact the nancial
aid ofce as soon as possible.
What aid is available for books, housing
and other expenses?
If you qualify for federal aid, such as a Pell
Grant, these funds can be used for other
college costs such as books, housing, meal
plans, transportation, etc. If you receive a
private scholarship or a scholarship directly
from your institution, you may be able to use
these funds for other costs as well.
Do I qualify if I attend a trade school?
Certicate and degree programs in the trades and
other high-need workforce areas are eligible if
they are provided as credit-bearing credentials at
a New Mexico public college or university. Private
trade schools do not qualify
NEW MEXICO
HIGHER EDUCATION
Fostering Student Success from Cradle to Career
DEPARTMENT
