New Mexico is home to dozens of public, private, and two-year institutions. Hundreds of thousands of students attend college in the southwestern state, but most of their schools have high tuition costs. Many students have no choice but to accept massive loans or part-time jobs to afford their education, which causes worry and stress that distracts from studying.
For students who are struggling to pay for college, scholarships can be a great way to reduce loans and out-of-pocket costs. Students in New Mexico can find plenty of scholarship opportunities for nonprofit organizations, businesses, and colleges and universities themselves.
1. Legislative Lottery Scholarship Program
The New Mexico Public Education Department provides the Legislative Lottery Scholarships which cover a portion of tuition for undergraduates who attended a New Mexico high school and are enrolled in a two- or four-year public New Mexico school. Students must have a 2.5 GPA and must enroll at a college or university immediately after their high school graduation. The scholarships will be awarded during recipients’ second college semesters, and can be renewed for up to seven semesters for four-year students and three semesters for two-year students.
2. New Mexico Scholars Program
New Mexico Scholars Program provides awards for students who graduate in the top five percent of their high school class, have an ACT score of 25 or higher or have an SAT score of 1140 or higher. Recipients must be enrolled full-time at a four-year school. To receive the scholarship, students must have a combined family income of less than $60,000. Students can apply through their college’s financial aid office. The scholarship can be renewed for up to four years.
3. Student Incentive Grants
Student Incentive Grants provide between $200 and $2,500 per year to students attending New Mexico public colleges or universities. Students must be enrolled as undergraduates at least half-time to receive the award. The award amount is based on financial need, and students must fill out the FAFSA to apply. The scholarship can be renewed each year until the recipient earns a bachelor’s degree.
4. New Mexico Graduate Scholarships
The New Mexico Graduate Scholarships are available to graduate students at New Mexico colleges or universities. To receive the award, recipients must agree to participate in an unpaid internship at their institution for 10 hours per week. Priority is given to applicants who belong to minority groups that are underrepresented in graduate programs. Students can submit an application for the scholarships at their college or university. The awards are worth up to $7,200 and are renewable for a second year.
5. College Affordability Grants
The College Affordability Grants are awarded to New Mexico residents who are enrolled at least half-time at New Mexico public colleges or universities. The monetary amount varies based on financial need, but the maximum amount awarded is $1,000. To apply, students must fill out the FAFSA and contact their college’s financial aid office. The grant can be awarded yearly until the student receives a bachelor’s degree.
6. Vietnam Veterans’ Scholarships
The Vietnam Veterans’ Scholarships are awarded to Vietnam veterans who are certified by the New Mexico Veterans’ Service Commission. Recipients must have been honorably discharged from the armed forces and must be New Mexico residents. The scholarship covers tuition, fees, and books for each recipient. Students can renew their scholarship each year if they make satisfactory progress and stay in good academic standing at their college or university.
7. Firefighters and Peace Officers Survivors Scholarship
The Survivors Scholarship is awarded to the spouse or child of a firefighter or peace officer who lost his or her life. Both the student and the deceased firefighter or peace officer must be residents of New Mexico, and the student must be attending or planning to attend a public college or university in New Mexico. The award covers the recipient’s full cost of tuition and can be renewed for up to five years.
8. NMSU Academic Scholarships
New Mexico State University awards several to incoming students. The President’s Associates Excellence Scholarship, which covers all tuition, fees, and housing, is awarded to students with a GPA of 3.75 and an ACT score of 28 or higher. The Honors Excel Scholarship, which covers tuition and fees, is awarded to students with a minimum GPA of 3.75 and an ACT score of 24. The Regents Success Scholarship, which also covers tuition and fees, is awarded to students with a minimum GPA of 3.5. All of these scholarships are renewable for eight semesters.
9. NMSU Transfer Scholarships
New Mexico State University awards Transfer Scholarships to students transferring to the university from community colleges. The Transfer Achievement Scholarship I, which is worth $2,500 per year, is awarded to students with a GPA 3.5 or higher. The Transfer Achievement Scholarship II, which is worth $1,500 per year, is awarded to students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. To receive the scholarships, students must have completed at least 36 transferable credit hours. Students are automatically considered for the scholarships when they apply to the university.
10. ENMU Freshman Academic Scholarships
Eastern New Mexico University provides Freshman Academic Scholarships to incoming students who graduated from New Mexico high schools. To be considered, students must have a minimum ACT score of 22. Depending on SAT and ACT scores, students may receive up to $2,800 per year. The award is renewable for up to four years if the student maintains a GPA of 3.0 or higher their first year and 3.2 or higher for every year after.
11. ENMU Green and Silver Scholarships
The Green and Silver Scholarships are awarded to Eastern New Mexico University students with a GPA of 3.0 and an ACT score of 2.7 or a GPA of 3.5 and an ACT score of 25. Applicants must be New Mexico residents and must have graduated from a New Mexico high school. The award is worth about $9,000 and covers tuition, fees, and housing. Students can renew their scholarship for up to four years. The University awards 10 Green and Silver Scholarships each year.
12. UNM Freshman Scholarships
The University of New Mexico awards Freshman Scholarships to New Mexico students with strong academic backgrounds. The Regents Scholarship, which is worth about $17,800, is awarded to students with a 3.9 GPA and a 31 ACT score. The National Hispanic and American Indian Scholarships, which are worth about $8,400, are awarded to students who have Hispanic and American Indian heritage. The Presidential Scholarship, which is worth about $8,400, is awarded to students with a 3.75 GPA and a 25 ACT score. Every scholarship is renewable for up to four years if the recipients meet the minimum GPA requirements.
13. UNM Tribal Scholarships
The University of New Mexico Tribal Scholarships are awarded to students who have American Indian heritage. To apply, students must provide their transcripts, their Tribal Financial Need Analysis, proof of enrollment, and a Certificate of Indian Blood. Students must also complete and submit the FAFSA each year. The scholarship amount is determined by the student’s financial need and is renewable for up to four years.
14. Sussman Miller Educational Assistance Award
The Sussman Miller Award is given to students who have financial need and are attending a college or university full-time. To apply, students should provide their financial aid letter from their college or university, their Federal Student Aid Report, their official transcript, a recommendation letter, a statement of personal goals, and a resume listing any community service, employment, academic achievements, or other awards. The monetary amount of the scholarship varies depending on the financial need of the recipient but is usually between $500 and $2,000.
15. Andrew Piech Memorial Scholarship
The Andrew Piech Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a New Mexico high school senior or college student who plans to pursue a degree or certificate from an automotive or technical-vocational school. To apply, students should provide a personal essay explaining why they are interested in the automotive or technical-vocational field and a letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, or employer. The recipient may be either a full-time or part-time student. The award amount varies between $500 and $1,000.
16. AAF-NM Scholarship
The New Mexico branch of the American Advertising Federation awards a $1,500 to a full-time student in his or her junior or senior year at a New Mexico college or university. Applicants must be studying business, journalism, advertising, marketing, or strategic communications and should have a GPA of at least 3.0. To apply, students should supply their official transcripts, a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor, a resume, and a personal essay explaining their career goals and why they have chosen their field of study.
17. Youth in Foster Care Scholarship Program
The Youth in Foster Care Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students between the ages of 17 and 21 who have been in the New Mexico foster care system for at least one year. To apply, students should have a GPA of 2.5 in high school or college. Students can either attend a New Mexico school or an out-of-state school. The scholarship committee awards between one and three New Mexico scholarships per year to assist with paying for college, and the maximum monetary value is $2,000.
18. Rae Lee Siporin Scholarship for Women
The Rae Lee Siporin Scholarship is awarded to a female New Mexico student who is entering her senior year at a New Mexico college or university. Applicants must be full-time students, and preference is given to students with financial need. Applicants must provide a resume, their official transcript, their financial aid award letter, their Student Aid Report, a letter of reference, and a personal statement about their educational and career goals. The scholarship committee awards between one and three $1,500 scholarships each year.
19. Trythall Family Scholarship
The Trythall Family Scholarship for Excellence in Continuing Education is awarded to students who live or work in the Greater Albuquerque Metropolitan Area, including Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia, and Torrance Counties. Students must have a 3.0 GPA, work 20 hours per week, and have made considerable efforts toward reaching a career goal. Applicants must submit a resume, a personal statement outlining their career goals, their transcript, and a letter from their employer verifying that they work 20 hours per week. The scholarship committee awards up to four scholarships each year worth between $500 and $1,000.
20. New Mexico State PEO Scholarship
The New Mexico chapter of the Philanthropic Educational Organization awards a to a college junior or senior who attends any four-year school. The recipient must demonstrate scholastic ability and must have a history of volunteerism and participation in extracurricular activities. Applicants must submit a resume, a personal statement, a letter of recommendation, and their transcript. The award, worth $2,500, is awarded in two installments, one in the fall semester and one in the spring.
21. Julie’s Helpers Memorial Scholarship
The Julie’s Helpers Scholarship is awarded to a female Navajo student who is enrolled in a New Mexico college or university. The recipient must be at least one-fourth Navajo Indian and must be enrolled full-time in business, education, science, or engineering field. Applicants must have a 2.75 GPA to be eligible for the award. The scholarship is worth $2,500.
22. Toby Wright Scholarship
The Toby Wright Scholarship is given to the child of a New Mexico individual who has been severely injured or killed in an accident related to their employment. The recipient must be between the ages of 16 and 25, must be a New Mexico resident, and must attend or plan to attend a New Mexico college, university, or trade school. Applicants must have a GPA of 2.5 to be eligible for the scholarship. The scholarship amount depends on the recipient’s financial need and the available scholarship funds.
23. New Mexico Alliance Scholarships
The New Mexico Alliance Scholarships are awarded to students with Hispanic heritage who attend community colleges, four-year institutions, or graduate programs. Applicants must be Neuvo Mexico residents, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and be enrolled full-time in their program. Applicants must also complete the FAFSA to be considered for the award. The scholarship amounts vary depending on the recipients’ financial need but usually range from $1,000 to $2,500.
24. AHCNM Scholarship
The Albuquerque Hispanic Chamber of Commerce awards a scholarship to a Hispanic high school senior who plans to attend a college or university the following year. Students must have a 2.5 GPA and must submit their official transcript, two letters of reference, and a statement describing their educational goals and how their goals relate to their Hispanic heritage. Additionally, students must submit an application with their financial information and a list of activities and awards. The monetary amount of the scholarship varies yearly.
25. NMBF Scholarships
The New Mexico Baptist Foundation awards many scholarships each year to students who are members of the Baptist church. The Aulick Memorial Scholarship is given to a student who attends ENMU and is enrolled in the Baptist Student Union. The Billie Holder Memorial Scholarship is given to a student with financial need and a GPA of 2.5. The Dr. Claude and Jeannie Cone Century Fund provides scholarships to students attending a seminary or the Wayland Baptist University. The scholarship amounts vary yearly.
26. Cory Sufrin Memorial Scholarship
The Cory Sufrin Memorial Scholarship is awarded to one student from each New Mexico respiratory therapy program. The scholarship committee chooses the recipients based on their scholastic achievements, their character, and their representation of patient care ideals. To apply, students must fill out an application stating their academic achievements and identifying their respiratory therapy program. Each scholarship is worth $250 and is awarded at the New Mexico Society for Respiratory Care Conference.
27. Nightingale Nursing Scholarships
The Nightingale Nursing Scholarships are awarded to New Mexico nursing students who have already completed one semester of a nursing program. To apply, students should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and must submit a transcript, two reference letters, and a personal statement explaining why they chose to pursue a nursing career. The scholarship committee awards several $1,000 scholarships each year.
28. Dan and Lucille Wood Athletic Scholarship
The Dan and Lucille Wood Athletic Scholarship is awarded to a high school senior who participated in NCAA sanctioned sports, including basketball, baseball, football, cross country, volleyball, golf, soccer, and wrestling. The recipient must have played at least one NCAA sport in his or her sophomore and junior years and at least two NCAA sports in his or her senior year. Applicants must submit their official transcript, their ACT or SAT scores, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. The monetary amount varies yearly.
29. NMLA Scholarships
The New Mexico Library Association awards several college scholarships each year. The Marion Dorroh Memorial Scholarship is available to an individual pursuing an advanced degree in Library and Information Science. The College Scholarship Fund supports library workers who are enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in Library Technology. To apply, students should submit a resume, their letter of acceptance to their program, and a one-page statement of their professional goals and how they plan to improve the New Mexico Library system.
30. PFLAG Scholarship
The Santa Fe PFLAG Chapter offers about 15 $1,000 each year to LGBT students who live in New Mexico. The recipients should have integrity, honesty, and strong moral character, and they should have a history of involvement in community service and extracurricular activities. When picking the scholarship recipients, priority is given to LGBT individuals below the age of 35, but some scholarships may also be awarded to older students and straight allies.
31. Sparx and Lorenzo Antonio Foundation Scholarships
The Sparx and Lorenzo Antonio Foundation awards a $2,000 to a New Mexico public high school student. Applicants must be graduating seniors planning to enroll full-time at a two- or four-year college or university, and they must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. The recipient should have financial need and a focused goal for their future. Applicants should submit their high school transcript, two recommendation letters, and a personal statement describing their career goals and their financial need.
32. Manufactured Housing Association Scholarship
The New Mexico Manufactured Housing Association awards the Charlie and Kathy Barnhart and Ken Haynes, Jr. Scholarship to a student who lives in a mobile or manufactured home and plans to enroll as a full-time student at a public college or university. To apply, students must have a 3.0 GPA and must submit a written statement of financial need, proof of residency in a mobile or manufactured home, and a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor. The Association awards one or two $1,000 scholarships each year.
33. ACF Notah Begay III Scholarships
The Notah Begay III Scholarship worth $1,400, is awarded to New Mexico high school seniors who are Native American scholar-athletes and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Applicants must have played a varsity level team sport in high school and must be planning to attend a community college or four-year university. To apply, students must provide a copy of their Student Aid Report of their FAFSA, their Certificate of Indian Blood or proof of tribal enrollment, a letter of recommendation from a coach, and a letter of recommendation from a teacher.
34. TEACH New Mexico Scholarships
The New Mexico branch of the TEACH organization provides several scholarships to students pursuing associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, or graduate degrees in education. They offer several different models of scholarships that cover varying percentages of the recipient’s tuition, books, and fees. The scholarships are available both for current teachers who want to pursue more education and new, full-time students. Students can submit their applications through the New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children website.
35. Apprentice Ecologist Open Space Scholarship
The Open Space Scholarship is awarded to a student who participates in an environmental stewardship project that benefits land owned by the Open Space Division. After the project’s completion, the student should write an essay describing why they chose their project, what they accomplished, and what the project meant to them. The scholarship committee will judge essays based on the quality of both the project and the writing. The writer of the winning essay will receive the $500 scholarship.
We’ve worked hard to include a variety of scholarship opportunities within our list. If you have any suggestions on additional scholarships, please feel free to leave them in the comments section.
Related Resource: Colleges With Full Ride Scholarships