SANTA FE – The New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship has received the National Impact Award from College Promise, a leading national nonprofit advocacy group that promotes college accessibility.
“This recognition reflects tens of thousands of New Mexicans whose lives have been transformed by the Opportunity Scholarship,” said Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez. “Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has been clear: there is no wrong door to higher education in New Mexico. This administration is making that promise a reality.”
The Opportunity Scholarship covers 100 percent of tuition for New Mexico students attending the state’s 29 public colleges and universities. It supports both part-time and full-time students pursuing high-demand certificate, associate and bachelor’s degrees, and allows summer enrollment, all with no income requirements, making it the most inclusive and widest-ranging free-tuition program in the U.S.
The New Mexico Higher Education Department estimates that over 41,000 students are currently receiving financial assistance through the Opportunity Scholarship. During the 2025 spring semester, college enrollment was up by 4.2% over two consecutive years, marking continued growth in higher education across the state.
As part of College Promise’s 10th anniversary celebration, the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship will be spotlighted.
The New Mexico Higher Education Department received the award during the College Promise Careers Institute’s 10th Anniversary Celebration at Palo Alto College in San Antonio, Texas, on October 20, 2025.
For more information about the New Mexico Higher Education Department and its programs, visit hed.nm.gov. To learn more about New Mexico’s tuition-free college programs like the Opportunity and Lottery scholarships, visit reachhighernm.com or call the Financial Aid Help Line at (800) 279-9777.