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New Mexico State University
Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarship Services

New Students

Click here for scholarship information for Current Students.

Whether you are a freshman, transfer student, New Mexico resident or from out-of-state there are scholarship opportunities for you. To be considered for these scholarships (with the exception of the Legislative Lottery Scholarship) you must:

  • Be admitted to NMSU-Las Cruces campus
  • Enroll full-time in classes on the Las Cruces campus (unless otherwise stated)
  • Set up your MYNMSU account and e-mail at http://my.nmsu.edu

** A student may only receive one major scholarship.
** Scholarship awards depend on availability of funds.
**All scholarships are subject to change in accordance with federal, state, and university regulations.

Freshmen-NM Resident

Many of these scholarships require:

  • N.M. residency
  • confirmation of graduation from an accredited New Mexico high school or a passing NM GED
  • admission to the Las Cruces campus no later than March 1st
  • full-time enrollment each semester at the Las Cruces campus
  • the student to be seeking a bachelor's degree
  • consecutive enrollment

Eligibility and renewal criteria vary and some scholarships may require an online NMSU scholarship application.  Review each scholarship for details.

New Mexico Legislative Lottery Scholarship

The Legislative Lottery Scholarship is automatically awarded to qualified students starting the 2nd semester of their freshman year.  No application necessary; no admissions deadline.

Award: Tuition ONLY, varying amounts.  (Stated semester rates at NMSU include both tuition and required fees.)

Eligibility Requirements:

  • enrolled in the first regular semester immediately following graduation from a NM high school or receiving a NM GED
  • NM resident
  • degree seeking
  • Minimum enrollment of 12 new credit hours
  • Completion of 12 new graded credit hours at the end of the first semester
  • 2.5 semester GPA for the first semester
  • N.M. homeschoolers must have a GED to be eligible for award. GED must be dated prior to the first day of classes of the fall semester.

Renewal Requirements:

  • Minimum enrollment of 12 new credit hours each semester
  • Completion of 12 new graded credit hours each semester
  • 2.5 cumulative GPA each semester
  • 8 semester maximum at a 4-year institution or attainment of a Bachelor Degree (graduation), whichever comes first

Note:  See further important details on the Legislative Lottery Scholarship under Current Students

President's Associates Excellence Scholarship

NMSU scholarship application required

Award: Standard tuition and fees plus $1,625/semester

Eligibility Requirements:

  • enrolled in minimum of 15 new credit hours at the Las Cruces campus the first regular semester immediately following graduation from a NM high school
  • NM resident
  • admission to the Las Cruces campus no later than January 18th
  • degree seeking
  • NMSU scholarship application submitted no later than January 18th
  • 3.75 GPA & 28 ACT or 3.5 GPA & 30 ACT
  • FAFSA Submitted by March 1st

Renewal Requirements:

  • Minimum enrollment of 15 new credit hours each semester
  • 3.25 semester GPA first semester and 3.5 cumulative GPA thereafter
  • completion of 15 new graded credit hours each semester
  • 8 semester maximum or attainment of a Bachelor Degree (graduation), whichever comes first

High Achiever Leadership Scholarship

Awarded as soon as official ACT scores and official high school transcripts with a minimum 6th semester GPA are available in the Office of University Admissions.

Award: Standard tuition and fees plus $1,000/semester

Eligibility Requirements:

  • enrolled in minimum of 15 new credit hours at the Las Cruces campus the first regular semester immediately following graduation from a NM high school
  • NM resident
  • admission to the Las Cruces campus no later than March 1st
  • degree seeking
  • 3.75 GPA & 28 ACT or 3.5 GPA & 30 ACT
  • FAFSA Submitted by March 1st

Renewal Requirements:

  • Minimum enrollment of 15 new credit hours each semester
  • 3.25 semester GPA first semester and 3.5 cumulative GPA thereafter
  • completion of 15 new graded credit hours each semester
  • 8 semester maximum or attainment of a Bachelor Degree (graduation), whichever comes first

Honors Excel Scholarship

Awarded as soon as official ACT scores and official high school transcripts with a minimum 6th semester GPA are available in the Office of University Admissions.

Award: Standard tuition and fees plus $500/semester

Eligibility Requirements:

  • enrolled in minimum of 15 new credit hours at the Las Cruces campus the first regular semester immediately following graduation from a NM high school
  • NM resident
  • admission to the Las Cruces campus no later than March 1st
  • degree seeking
  • 3.75 GPA & 24 ACT or 26 ACT
  • FAFSA Submitted by March 1st

Renewal Requirements:

  • Minimum enrollment of 15 new credit hours each semester
  • 3.25 semester GPA first semester and 3.5 cumulative GPA thereafter
  • completion of 15 new graded credit hours each semester
  • 8 semester maximum or attainment of a Bachelor Degree (graduation), whichever comes first

Regents Success Scholarship

Awarded as soon as official ACT scores and official high school transcripts with a minimum 6th semester GPA are available in the Office of University Admissions.

Award: Standard tuition and fees

Eligibility Requirements:

  • enrolled in minimum of 15 new credit hours at the Las Cruces campus the first regular semester immediately following graduation from a NM high school
  • NM resident
  • admission to the Las Cruces campus no later than March 1st
  • degree seeking
  • 3.5 GPA & 23 ACT or 3.75 GPA
  • FAFSA Submitted by March 1st

Renewal Requirements:

  • Minimum enrollment of 15 "new" credit hours each semester
  • 3.0 semester GPA first semester and 3.0 cumulative GPA thereafter
  • completion of 15 "new"graded credit hours each semester
  • 8 semester maximum or attainment of a Bachelor Degree (graduation), whichever comes first

Opportunity Scholarship

Awarded as soon as official ACT scores and official high school transcripts with a minimum 6th semester GPA are available in the Office of University Admissions.

Award: $1,000 First Semester Only

Eligibility Requirements:

  • enrolled in minimum of 12 new credit hours at the Las Cruces campus the first regular semester immediately following graduation from a NM high school
  • NM resident
  • admission to the Las Cruces campus no later than March 1st
  • degree seeking
  • 3.0 GPA or 21 ACT
  • enrolled in 12 new credit hours
  • FAFSA Submitted by March 1st

All Students

General Endowed Scholarships
There are many scholarships with varying criteria and renewal requirements available through colleges and departments for all incoming students. Award values vary. A scholarship application is required. There's a deadline of March 1st and a FAFSA is required for scholarships requiring financial need.
The scholarship application will be available at http://scholarships.nmsu.edu

Other Freshmen Opportunities

New Mexico Scholars
Students under the age of 22 who have never attended college

Award: Exact tuition and standard fees; book allowance

Eligibility Requirements:

  • N.M. resident
  • N.M. high school graduate
  • Enrolled by age 21
  • Admitted to Las Cruces campus
  • Enrolled in 12 "new" credit hours at the Las Cruces campus
  • 25 ACT or 1160 SAT or top 5 percent high school graduating class
  • adjusted gross income $30,000 for one student in college, $40,000 for two in college
  • FAFSA recommended, otherwise income tax return required
  • Seeking a bachelor's degree
  • scholarship application submitted by March 1st

Renewal Requirements:

  • Enroll in 12 "new" credit hours at the Las Cruces campus each semester
  • Earn 24 "new" credit hours each academic year (fall/spring) at Las Cruces campus
  • 3.5 cumulative NMSU GPA
  • Scholarship award is for a maximum of eight semesters or attainment of a Bachelor, whichever comes first.

NMSU National Merit Scholarship
National Merit Finalist selected by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. Number of awards limited.
Award: Tuition and fees waived, $1,500 stipend/semester, laptop computer, room and board allowance; $1,000 one time study abroad stipend.
Eligibility Requirements:

  • enrolled in the first regular semester immediately following graduation from high school
  • Admitted to Las Cruces campus
  • Enrolled in 15 "new" credit hours at the Las Cruces campus
  • Seeking a bachelor's degree
  • U.S. citizenship
  • National Merit Finalist selected by the National Merit Scholarship Corp.

Renewal Requirements:

  • Minimum enrollment of 15 "new" credit hours each semester
  • 3.5 semester GPA first semester and 3.5 cumulative GPA thereafter
  • completion of 15 "new" graded credit hours each semester
  • 8 semester maximum or attainment of a Bachelor Degree (graduation), whichever comes first

NMSU National Merit Semi-Finalist Scholarship
National Merit Semi-Finalist selected by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. Number of awards limited.
Award: Tuition and fees waived, $1,000 stipend/semester
Eligibility Requirements:

  • enrolled in the first regular semester immediately following graduation from high school
  • Admitted to Las Cruces campus
  • Enrolled in 15 "new" credit hours at the Las Cruces campus
  • Seeking a bachelor's degree
  • U.S. citizenship
  • National Merit Semi-Finalist selected by the National Merit Scholarship Corp.

Renewal Requirements:

  • Minimum enrollment of 15 "new" credit hours each semester
  • 3.5 semester GPA first semester and 3.5 cumulative GPA thereafter
  • completion of 15 "new" graded credit hours each semester
  • 8 semester maximum or attainment of a Bachelor Degree (graduation), whichever comes first

NMSU National Hispanic Scholars
National Hispanic Scholar Finalist selected by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. Number of awards limited.

Award: Tuition and fees waived, $500 stipend/semester

Eligibility Requirements:

  • enrolled in the first regular semester immediately following graduation from high school
  • Admitted to Las Cruces campus
  • Enrolled in 15 "new" credit hours at the Las Cruces campus
  • Seeking a bachelor's degree
  • U.S. citizenship
  • National Hispanic Scholar Finalist selected by the National Merit Scholarship Corp.

Renewal Requirements:

  • Minimum enrollment of 15 "new" credit hours each semester
  • 3.5 semester GPA first semester and 3.5 cumulative GPA thereafter
  • completion of 15 "new" graded credit hours each semester
  • 8 semester maximum or attainment of a Bachelor Degree (graduation), whichever comes first

Out-of-State, Returning and Transfer Students

Legislative Lottery Scholarship
If initial eligibility has already been established at a prior New Mexico institution the Legislative Lottery Scholarship can be transferred to NMSU. To have your lottery scholarship transferred the NMSU-Las Cruces (LC) scholarship department must receive a Scholarship Transfer Transcript (STT) from the school in which you are transferring from. (Note: this is different from the academic transcript that must be sent to the Office of Admissions.)

  1. Contact the scholarship department at your current school after the grades have been posted for your last semester attending.
  2. Request they fax a Scholarship Transfer Transcript to (575) 646-4383.
  3. Follow up with the scholarship department at NMSU-LC campus to confirm receipt of the STT. (575) 646-4597.

Once the transcript is received the scholarship department will evaluate your eligibility. Based on the information provided by the previous school you may be awarded the Legislative Lottery Scholarship, placed on probation, or denied. To assure receiving the lottery scholarship in time to pay your tuition the STT must be received no later than one week prior to the beginning of the semester entering NMSU.
You are encouraged to visit with the scholarship department at your current school to understand the process prior to requesting the STT.
If you are attending a NMSU campus other than Las Cruces you will need to have the transcript sent to that campus.
Transfer Achievement Scholarship
Students transferring from a NMSU community college or 2-year N.M. community or junior college. NMSU general scholarship application required.

Award: Standard tuition and fees (if Lottery eligible only standard fees paid)

Eligibility Requirements:

  • N.M. resident
  • Admitted to Las Cruces campus by March 1st
  • Enrolled in 15 "new" credit hours at the Las Cruces campus
  • 30 to 90 total attempted credit hours at all institutions
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater
  • Seeking a bachelor's degree
  • scholarship application submitted by March 1st

Renewal Requirements:

  • Enroll in 15 "new" credit hours at the Las Cruces campus each semester
  • Earn 15 "new" credit hours each semester at Las Cruces campus
  • 3.5 cumulative NMSU GPA
  • Scholarship award is for a maximum of four semesters or attainment of a Bachelor, whichever comes first.
  • * Need link to apply

Legislative Endowment Scholarship
Returning student or transfer from a NMSU community college or two-year N.M. junior college.
Award: Up to $2,500/year
Eligibility Requirements:

  • N.M. resident
  • U.S. citizen
  • Admitted to Las Cruces campus by March 1st
  • Enrolled in a minimum of 6 "new" credit hours at the Las Cruces campus
  • Seeking a bachelor's degree
  • scholarship application submitted by March 1st

Renewal Requirements:

  • Earn all "new" credit hours attempted each semester
  • Enroll in a minimum of 6 "new" credit hours at the Las Cruces campus each semester
  • 2.5 cumulative NMSU GPA

Out-of-State Competitive Scholarship
Enables a non-resident student to pay in-state tuition and fees.
NMSU general scholarship application required. Number of awards limited.
Award: Tuition reduced to N.M. residency rate; $100 stipend/per semester
Eligibility Requirements:

  • Non-N.M. resident
  • Admitted to Las Cruces campus by March 1st
  • Enrolled in 15 "new" credit hours at the Las Cruces campus
  • Seeking a bachelor's degree
  • Freshman: 3.5 GPA & 23 ACT or 3.0 GPA & 26 ACT
  • Transfer: 3.5 cumulative GPA or have freshman criteria
  • scholarship application submitted by March 1st

Renewal Requirements:

  • Enroll in 15 "new" credit hours at the Las Cruces campus each semester
  • Earn 30 "new" credit hours each academic year (fall/spring) at Las Cruces campus
  • 3.5 cumulative NMSU GPA
  • Maximum of 8 semesters or attainment of a bachelor degree, whichever comes first
  • Transfer – semester maximum includes all transfer semesters from previous institution(s)

Note: If you participate in this scholarship program you are ineligible for New Mexico residency. If you wish to establish NM residency you may not begin the application process until after having discontinued the scholarship program for one full year.