Grants

Grants are need-based aid that is not repaid. They are typically reserved for students with the highest financial need, as determined by the information stated on the FAFSA.

The Student Aid Index (SAI) number, generated by your FAFSA application, determines your eligibility for Grants as well as all other types of Title IV aid. The new year's FAFSA applications are available online starting October 1st. To apply for grants, you must submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible. Please review our About FAFSA page for guides and helpful videos.

Along with completing the FAFSA, students must also be admitted as degree-seeking undergraduate students and be meeting all aspects of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

State Grants 

State grants are provided by the State of New Mexico and are considered priority-based aid. Students are encouraged to complete their FAFSA by March 1st, NMSU’s priority deadline, annually to maintain maximum eligibility for state-based grants. State grants are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.

NM Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Grant (LEAP)

The LEAP, or formerly known as the SSIG Program provides need-based grants to help low-income undergraduate students, who are New Mexico residents, finance the cost of postsecondary education. SSIG grants are funded by the State of New Mexico and are available on a first-come first-served basis. Priority is given to students who receive Federal Pell Grants.

The amount of your award depends on:

  • When you applied and completed your FAFSA
  • Student Aid Index (SAI) – your financial need based on the FAFSA
  • Status as a full-time or part-time student
  • Your admitting campus
  • The availability of funds

Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of the application process for an SSIG or LEAP. If you are selected for Verification, please be advised you are expected to satisfy or complete your requirements by a specific deadline that can found under our Verification Policy page under the “Consequences and Deadlines” section.

Teacher Preparation Affordability Scholarship Program

The purpose of the Teacher Preparation Affordability Scholarship Program is to encourage eligible New Mexico students to attend and complete an accredited public education department-approved teacher preparation program at a New Mexico public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college by providing a scholarship opportunity. The scholarship is intended to help defray the educational expenses charged by the public post-secondary institution or tribal college including tuition, fees, books and course supplies, and living expenses.

  • The amount of your award depends on:
    • When you applied and completed your FAFSA 
    • Student Aid Index (SAI) – your financial need based on the FAFSA 
    • Status as a full-time or part-time student
    • Your admitting campus
    • The availability of funds

    Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of the application process. If you are selected for Verification, please be advised you are expected to satisfy or complete your requirements by a specific deadline that can found under our Verification Policy page under the “Consequences and Deadlines” section.

Grow Your Own Teachers

The “Grow Your Own Teachers Act” seeks to provide opportunities for educational assistants, to pursue careers in teaching in New Mexico, by providing scholarship opportunities for educational assistants who may want to attend a public post-secondary educational institution in New Mexico to earn a bachelor’s degree in education. The program provides for professional leave and scholarship awards to qualified educational assistants. The scholarship is intended to help defray the educational expenses charged by the institution including tuition, fees, books, and course supplies.

  • The amount of your award depends on:
    • When you applied and completed your FAFSA 
    • Student Aid Index (SAI) – your financial need based on the FAFSA 
    • Status as a full-time or part-time student
    • Your admitting campus
    • The availability of funds

Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of the application process. If you are selected for Verification, please be advised you are expected to satisfy or complete your requirements by a specific deadline that can found under our Verification Policy page under the “Consequences and Deadlines” section.

Federal Grants

Federal grants are need-based aid provided by the Federal Government. To receive federal grants, students need to complete a FAFSA, demonstrate financial need, and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Pell Grant

Federal Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree.

The dollar amounts of Pell Grant awards can change yearly.

  • The amount of your award depends on your:
    • Student Aid Index (SAI) – your financial need based on the FAFSA application
    • Cost of Attendance (COA) - the amount it will cost a student to go to school
    • Status as a full-time or part-time student, and
    • Plans to attend school for a full academic year or less

You can only receive Pell Grant funds from one school at a time. The maximum time frame for Pell Grant eligibility (set by federal law) is 12 full-time semesters or the equivalent of six years. The amount of a scheduled Pell Grant award that you can receive each year is equal to 100%, making the six-year equivalent: 600%. You will receive a notice from the NMSU Financial Aid Office if/when you get close to reaching your limit.

If your parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11. You may be eligible for additional Pell Grant funds if, at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death, you were:

  • Less than 24 years of age, or
  • Enrolled in college or career school at least part-time

If you meet these requirements and you’re eligible for a Pell Grant, your Student Aid Index (SAI) will be changed to zero, which maximizes your Pell Grant amount and can increase your eligibility for all federal student aid programs. Payments are adjusted if you are enrolled less than full-time.

If you meet those requirements and you are eligible to receive a Pell Grant due to your SAI being too high, you might be eligible for the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant.

Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of the application process for a Federal Pell Grant. If you are selected for Verification, please be advised you are expected to satisfy or complete your requirements by a specific deadline that can found under our Verification Policy page under the “Consequences and Deadlines” section. Students must meet all eligibility requirements for the Pell Grant by the last day of the registration which is referred to as the semester’s full-term census date.

Summer Pell

Students, who did not receive their full Pell Grant in the fall or spring semesters, may be eligible for the remaining Pell for the summer term.  Additionally, students who have received full-time Pell Grant in both fall and spring may be eligible to receive a Pell Grant in the summer if they enroll at least half-time and have remaining lifetime Pell eligibility. Students must ensure that they complete the FAFSA for the upcoming year and submit all requested verification documents. Students must meet all eligibility requirements for the Summer Pell Grant by the last day of registration which is referred to as the semester’s full-term census date.

Special note to students graduating in the summer: If you received a Pell Grant the previous summer you may not be eligible to receive Summer Pell since you will not have Pell eligibility for the upcoming year.

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

The SEOG Program provides need-based grants to help low-income undergraduate students finance the cost of postsecondary education. SEOG grants are funded by federal and institutional sources and are available on a first-come first-served basis. Priority is given to students who receive a Federal Pell Grant.

  • The amount of your awards depends on:
    • When you applied and completed your FAFSA application
    • Student Aid Index (SAI) – your financial need based on the FAFSA application
    • Status as a full-time or part-time student
    • Your admitting campus
    • The availability of funds

Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of the application process for a Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. If you are selected for Verification, please be advised you are expected to satisfy or complete your requirements by a specific deadline that can found under our Verification Policy page under the “Consequences and Deadlines” section.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG)

The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant provides money to undergraduate students to help pay for their educational expenses and has special eligibility criteria.

  • You may be eligible to receive the Iraq or Afghanistan Grant if:
    • You are not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant on the basis of your Student Aid Index.
    • Meet the remaining Federal Pell Grant Eligibility requirements, and
    • Your parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11, and
    • You were under 24 years old or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death.

The dollar amounts of an Iraq and Afghanistan Grant award can change yearly. The award amount is based on a percentage of the maximum Federal Pell Grant award for the current academic year, but it cannot exceed your cost of attendance for that award year.

Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of the application process for the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. If you are selected for Verification, please be advised you are expected to satisfy or complete your requirements by a specific deadline that can found under our Verification Policy page under the “Consequences and Deadlines” section.

TEACH Grant

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides annual grants to students who plan to become teachers.  As a condition for receiving a TEACH Grant, students must agree to teach full-time in a high-need field, for at least four academic years at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves low-income families. The grant recipient must complete the required four years of teaching within eight years of completing (or otherwise ceasing to be enrolled in) the course of study for which a TEACH Grant was received. If a grant recipient does not meet that obligation, the TEACH Grant funds received are converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan that must be repaid with interest.

What are high needs fields?

  • Bilingual education and English language acquisition,
  • Foreign language,
  • Mathematics,
  • Reading specialist,
  • Science, and
  • Special education, as well as,
  • Any other field that has been identified as high-need by the federal government, a state government, or a local education agency, and that includes the annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing (Nationwide List).

 The amount of the award:

  • A full-time undergraduate TEACH Grant recipient may receive four scheduled awards of $4,000 each, or a total of $16,000, for the student’s first bachelor’s degree. Programs after the first bachelor’s degree are not eligible.
  • A graduate student may receive two scheduled awards or $4,000, or a total of $8,000, for a master’s degree program.

Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of the application process for a TEACH Grant. If you are selected for Verification, please be advised you are expected to satisfy or complete your requirements by a specific deadline that can be found under our Verification Policy page under the “Consequences and Deadlines” section.

 

Learn about the TEACH Grant