Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez issued a statement following the decision of various four-year higher education institutions to increase tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year:
“This year, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham approved over $1.2 billion for public colleges and universities across the state, 12 percent of the state’s overall budget and some of the most generous funding in state history. This includes over $782 million in operational funds going toward public colleges and universities, another $150 million for capital projects, and $146 million for New Mexico’s tuition-free college program – the Opportunity Scholarship.
"I urge all governing boards – regents and trustees – overseeing public higher education institutions to keep tuition flat this year in the best interest of students and taxpayers. We are witnessing enrollment increases for the first time in over a decade and substantial investments in higher education compared to the rest of the country. These historic investments are meant to directly benefit students by funding their education and reducing the portion of operational costs passed along to students, not an opportunity to exploit state funding to increase college and university revenues through more tuition and fees.”