New Mexico Grant Programs

The residents of New Mexico have numerous options available when paying for a higher education.

According to the New Mexico Higher Education Department, approximately $70 million is awarded every year to New Mexico’s students through various financial aid programs and scholarships.

The financial aid options are funded through federal and state programs, private foundations, and community organizations.

In New Mexico, a student may attain grants, scholarships, and subsidized or unsubsidized student loans. Additionally, internships, fellowships, tuition waivers, and work study programs are available for some students.

Moreover, there are student exchange programs and loans for service programs available to some residents. There are also some loan repayment programs for the residents of New Mexico.

Although most of the financial aid programs are for people fresh out of high school, there are some for older students as well. Some of the programs are aimed towards specific areas of study or towards people with a specific ethnic or economical background.

Federal funded programs:

The federal government has provided the following educational assistance through several loan and grant programs for many years. To qualify, a person must be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States and meet certain financial criteria. However, all these programs are currently being deliberated upon, and may or may not be available in the coming years.

Not all schools participate in these programs, so the student will have to check for availability with the school of interest directly. The individual will have to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms through the selected school’s financial aid office.

• Pell grant
• Plus and Grad-Plus Loans (the school must and participating lenders (currently Bank of the West, Citizens Bank of Clovis, and New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union) must be participating in the Federal Family Education Loan Program.
• Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship
• Subsidized Stafford loan
• Unsubsidized Stafford loan

There may be additional federal programs available as well, such as the TEACH grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). In addition, the federal government is now coming up with several new grants for training people to work in the “green” industries.

State funded programs:

The New Mexico Higher Education Department primarily works to provide residents with funding for in-state higher education. However, a few of the state funded programs help students attend schools out-of–state or assists students from out-of-state to attend schools in New Mexico. It is their goal to assist as many residents as possible to receive the higher education necessary to compete in a global market. Most of the programs funded are for attendance at public colleges and universities, but a few private schools are covered under specific programs.

The primary goal is to educate the New Mexico population in areas that will provide growth in the overall business environment, thus improving the living standards for all residents. Thus, for state funded educational aid, the person must meet the New Mexico residency requirements o be eligible for a waiver. The individual must also be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. For all the programs, except the Loans for Service, individuals simply have to file the FAFSA forms at the chosen school’s financial aid office.

1. Competitive Scholarship – for non-resident or non-citizen with high academic achievements to enroll in a public 4-year university in New Mexico; must be an undergraduate attending full-time
2. Education Trust Board Pathways Scholarship – for graduating New Mexico high school seniors with a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale, attending any public or private college or university in the United States as a first-time freshman. Must have filed a FASFA, and received a $0 Estimated Family Contribution on the Student Aid Report; the student simply fills out the application and mail it directly to the New Mexico Higher Education Department.
3. Legislative Endowment Scholarship – for undergraduate students with substantial financial need who are attending eligible public post-secondary educational facilities in New Mexico as an undergraduate attending at least on a half-time basis.
4. Legislative Lottery Scholarship – for undergraduates who are enrolled full-time at an eligible New Mexico public college or university. Must have a 2.5 GPA in first regular semester immediately following high school, and must have 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).
5. Loans for Service Programs – helps professionals in high demand areas, such as doctors, nurses, allied health professions, teachers, and pharmacists to repay student loans in exchange for service in designated shortage areas located in New Mexico
6. Loan Repayment Programs – provides for repayment of outstanding student loans for certain health and law professionals in exchange for service in specified designated areas of New Mexico, for a specified amount of time. The requirements vary per type of loan repayment; however health professionals are required to commit for two years while law professionals are required to commit for three years. Applicants should submit applications directly to the New Mexico Higher Education Department.
7. New Mexico Scholars – for students of New Mexico who graduated high school in the top 5% of their class or score 25 on the ACT test, must attend an eligible college or university by the end of their 21st birthday, be an undergraduate enrolled full-time, and have a family income that does not exceed $30,000 per year. If two or more family members are in college, the combined family income cannot exceed $40,000 annually. Interested students should contact the financial aid office at the school of choice, and will need to file a FAFSA.
8. New Mexico Veterans Education and Training Programs – for various veterans honorably discharged or disabled due to military service, and their surviving spouses or children if service person died while on active duty; benefits varies depending on veteran’s GI Bill rights. Some on-the-job and apprenticeship training is also available to certain veterans. Veterans should contact their local Department of Veteran Affair office, the New Mexico Department of Education, or visit the GI Bill’s website for more information. They should also contact the school of interest to see if any other financial aid for veterans is being offered through the school or local community.
9. Richard T. Knowles Legislative Scholarship – only for students attending the New Mexico Military Institute
10. Student Choice (only for College of Santa Fe, St. John’s College, and College of the Southwest)
11. Student Exchange Program – students can receive in-state residency tuition rates at certain schools in Arizona, Colorado, and Texas
12. Student Incentive Grant – for New Mexico residents who are U.S. Citizens, and are an undergraduate enrolled at least half-time, and can demonstrate financial need; must file a FAFSA to be eligible.
13. T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood – for people who are already working as teachers, assistant teachers, or program directors in early childhood care and education programs, and to family child care home professional; the scholarships are for Associate, Bachelor, and Graduate Degrees in Early Childhood Education. For more information, visit www.nmaeyc.org
14. Vietnam Veterans Scholarship – for U. S. Vietnam veterans who were honorably discharged, and who were residents of New Mexico at time of entry into military service or who have resided in New Mexico for ten or more years. Must have been awarded a Vietnam campaign medal for service in Vietnam during the period of August 5, 1964 to official end of conflict, can be undergraduate or graduate student. Veterans may contact the New Mexico Veteran’s service Commission at 1-505-827-6300 or the financial aid office at any New Mexico public or eligible private institution.
15. Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) – For a complete list of participating schools, visit their website.

A person may visit the Department of Higher Education’s website for more information regarding residency requirements for in-state tuition fees and waivers. For more information regarding the aforementioned state funded programs, visit the following website.

In-state tuition fees are usually less expensive than paying out-of-state tuition fees. In addition, courses taken at a public school are usually less expensive those taken at a private school. Therefore, students should try to get as many of the core subjects for their degrees through their local public colleges. However, the individual should also make certain that any courses taken will be accredited toward the degree upon transferring to other colleges and universities for the completion of his or her degree program.

Community or Privately funded programs:

Many community organizations and private foundations, such as church groups, fraternal orders, and public service groups offer scholarships or other types of aid for their members or to graduating high school seniors who fit specific profiles. Some of the popular community and privately sponsored programs in New Mexico are:

1. Daniels Fund Scholarship Program – offers two types of scholarships, visit the website for more information
2. Daughters of the American Revolution scholarships – numerous scholarships available, visit their website for more information on the various scholarships available
3. Excel Staffing companies – central New Mexico area – for students who live or work in Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia, or Santa Fe counties; contact school’s financial aid office to check on scholarship availabilit
4. Job Service Employer Connection (JSEC) scholarship – Santa Fe area – for students who have a 2.5 GPA or higher and is currently enrolled in an accredited higher education program at a Santa Fe college or university; must live or work in Santa Fe; contact school’s financial aid office to find out if school offers this scholarship
5. Los Alamos National Lab Foundation – northern New Mexico area; for any permanent resident of Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Taos counties with at least a 3.25 cumulative unweighted GPA who is enrolling in or currently attending an accredited post-secondary institution; for more information, please visit the website.
6. Manuel Lujan Excellence in Education scholarship – metro area – must be a graduating high school senior with a 2.5 GPA or higher, attending one of the 24 eligible schools, and planning on attending a four year college or university.
7. Rachel Ray’s, Yum-o! Organization – for graduating high school seniors planning to enroll in an accredited food service program in order to pursue a culinary arts career, may get more information by visiting
8. Private Student Loans – for all students, from various lenders, check availability with local banks and other financial institutions
9. Santa Fe Community Foundation – for residents of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Taos, Los Alamos, San Miguel, or Mora counties; must be a low-income college freshman or sophomore who graduated from high school within the preceding two years, may get more information by visiting www.santafecf.org or call 1-505-988-9715, ext. 6
10. Sussman-Miller Education Assistance Program- statewide – must be a high school senior or college student full-time and be a federal financial aid recipient; contact financial aid office of selected school to see if it offers this scholarship
11. Workman’s Compensation Association – for children of permanently or catastrophically injured or deceased workers killed in an employment-related accident; for more information, visit their website.

Minority specific funding:

All the following funding is based on specific cultural profiles. All the Native American based funding requires the student to be enrolled in a federally recognized tribe. Individuals should contact these organizations directly or visit their web sites for further information. Native Americans should also check with the Bureau of Indian Education.

1. American Indian Graduate Center –visit Aigc.Com
2. American Indian Sciences and Engineering Society – visit Aises.Org
3. American Indian Services –contact: American Indian Services Program, Attn: Scholarship Dept., 1902 North Canyon Rd., Ste. 100, Provo, UT 84604
4. American Indian Scholarship Fund –visit CollegeFund.Org
5. Association of American Indian Affairs – visit Indian-Affairs
6. Gates Millennium Scholarship – visit their website
7. Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
8. Hispanic College Fund – visit the website
9. Hispanic Scholarship Fund –visit www.hsf.net
10. Indian Health Service
11. Indian Resource Development Program – pdf file containing information about numerous financial aid programs for Native Americans; visit the site here
12. Institute for American Indians – must be attending the UNM college of Education full-time with a 3.0 or higher GPA, and must be committed to teaching NM Native American students after graduation; for more information, contact: Institute for American Indian Education College of Education LLS MSC05 3040, 1 University of New Mexico, Hokona Hall 250, Albuquerque, NM 87131
13. MESBEC Scholarship Program – nationwide- is a part of the Catching the Dream program, should be used as a last resource after all other funding has been exhausted, must contact Catching the Dream before applying for any of their scholarships; contact at: Email:NScholarsh@aol.com Subject line: Scholarship Application RequestPhone: (505)262-2351 ext. 116
    Mail To: Catching the Dream
    Attn: Scholarship Affairs Office
    8200 Mountain Road NE., Suite 203,
    Albuquerque, NM 87110
14. Native American Leadership (NALE) – nationwide – must contact Catching the Dream before applying for any their scholarships, must exhaust all other funding sources first; contact: Email:NScholarsh@aol.com Subject line: Scholarship Application RequestPhone: (505)262-2351 ext. 116
    Mail To: Catching the Dream
    Attn: Scholarship Affairs Office
    8200 Mountain Road NE., Suite 203,
    Albuquerque, NM 87110
15. Native Vision Scholarships
16. Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
17. Tribal Business Management (TBM) – nationwide- must contact Catching the Dream before applying at: Email:NScholarsh@aol.com Subject line: Scholarship Application RequestPhone: (505)262-2351 ext. 116
    Mail To: Catching the Dream
    Attn: Scholarship Affairs Office
    8200 Mountain Road NE., Suite 203,
    Albuquerque, NM 87110
    Internships and Fellowships offered:

    Some internships and fellowships will assist individuals with paying for a higher education. Other internships and fellowships may simply provide on-the –job training. Here is a sample list of internships and fellowships available:

18. Inroads Internship
19. Morris K. Udall Foundation Internship and Scholarship Program
20. Office of the Governor’s Executive Internship Program
21. Office of the Governor’s Fellows Program
22. Research Internship for Black, Hispanic, and Native Americans
23. Social Innovation for Native Americans Fellowship Program (SINAFP)
24. The U.S. Department of State
25. The White House Fellows Program

Other Scholarships and grants:

The student should contact the financial aid offices of the school directly. Many schools have scholarship, grant, and loan programs that are specific to that school or local community.

Prospective students should check into scholarship and grant programs specific to their talents, abilities, hobbies, lifestyles, and areas of study also. Numerous web sites offer free database searches for scholarships based on specific profiles, such as academics, athletic ability, musical talent, personal traits, ancestry, and personal interests.

Most public libraries and school counselors also have listings of scholarships and grants.