New Mexico Scholars
New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED)
Covers tuition, books and fees for top New Mexico high school graduates (top 5% or ACT 25 / SAT 1140) from families earning $60,000 or less who enroll full time in New Mexico before age 21.
- How much
- Tuition, books and fees
- Who qualifies
- NM high school graduate in top 5% or ACT 25+/SAT 1140+; family income at or below $60,000/year; full-time undergraduate at an eligible NM public or private nonprofit college; enroll before age 21.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads
- US citizen or eligible non-citizen (per 5.7.9 NMAC)
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Check dates Set by each participating college.
- How to apply
- Apply through the financial aid office of the eligible New Mexico college you will attend
- Contact it for instructions and its eligibility period
- What you'll need
- transcript + test scores + FAFSA
- Last checked
- October 23, 2026, against the official page (hed.nm.gov) and page 2
The details
For New Mexico high school graduates who rank in the top 5% of their class (junior or senior year) or score at least 25 on the ACT or 1140 on the SAT, have combined family income of no more than $60,000 a year, and enroll full time as undergraduates at an eligible New Mexico public or private nonprofit college before their 21st birthday (22nd, per the rule's 'by the end of his twenty-first year'). Public colleges pay tuition, required fees and books; private nonprofit colleges pay up to the highest state-institution tuition plus fees and books. One year at a time; renewable for up to four annual awards (two at a two-year college) or until a bachelor's degree.
More money from New Mexico
- Teacher Preparation Affordability ScholarshipUp to $6,000 per academic year (based on need)
- New Mexico Student Incentive Grant (NMSIG)$200 - $2,500 per year
- New Mexico Competitive ScholarshipA scholarship of at least $100 per semester plus in-state tuition and fee rates
- New Mexico Legislative Lottery Scholarship100% of tuition
- New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship100% of tuition and course-specific fees up to $50 per credit hour (at New Mexico public colleges and universities)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.