Saving the World Starts with Education: Opportunity Scholarship Powers Learning
Learn how New Mexico’s Opportunity Scholarship is making college tuition‑free and accessible for returning learners statewide.
by Kai Warrior
If you’re awake on Earth, you have probably noticed or fallen victim to the cyclical nature of the systems built to “serve” “We, the People.” Whether our system of governance, healthcare system, criminal justice system, financial system, or educational system, many of the systems our society is built upon are failing us.
With New Mexico ranking 50th in the nation for education, 17th for poverty, and 16th in behavioral health, it is important that our state is doing its best to support the lives within it. High school graduation and college enrollment rates are both on the rise here, and contemplating and accessing higher education is within reach for many of us.
Funding Opportunity
In 2022, Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham signed the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship into law. Its purpose is to fill in gaps that aren't covered by Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Lottery Scholarship, and other financial aid.
This created a scholarship program that makes higher education an accessible, attainable goal, giving recent high school graduates and returning learners alike access to a full-time education in a public institution—with free tuition and at a fraction of course fees. Free or affordable higher education won’t solve all the problems in the plethora of systems that aren’t working for the people, but it’s a start.
What’s the Catch?
You may be asking, “Wait—the state will pay for my college education?”
There are some eligibility and qualification requirements for the Opportunity Scholarship, but the answer is yes. If you’re over the age of 18, a New Mexico resident (with proof of residency for 12 consecutive months), have graduated high school or received a high school equivalency certificate within the last 16 months, and are pursuing a training certificate or your first associate’s or bachelor’s degree at a public college or university, you may qualify.
How It Works
Once you finish your initial eligibility semester, you must maintain or exceed a 2.5 GPA, remain resident in the state, and enroll in at least 12 (but up to 18) credit hours each term (with some flexibility for folks with disabilities or who are experiencing extenuating circumstances). The Opportunity Scholarship can be established at most public universities in New Mexico—like the University of New Mexico (UNM), New Mexico State University (NMSU), and Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)—but it’s also offered at 26 other schools within the state.
The New Mexico Higher Education Department encourages people to still apply for FAFSA, Pell Grants, and other scholarships to bridge the financial strain that comes with receiving a higher education. If you’d like to learn more or take advantage of this opportunity, visit www.reachhighernm.com.