NM Lottery Scholarship

The State of New Mexico is offering the NM Lottery and NM Opportunity Scholarships to New Mexico Residents seeking an advanced degree or professional certificate. Both scholarships may pay up to 100% of a student’s tuition and required fees, as well as up to $50 per credit hour for course-specific fees, provided the student remains eligible.

There is no application process for the NM Lottery Scholarship. The scholarship award will be automatically applied each year to those student’s accounts who have met the eligibility and renewal requirements.

  • Eligible students who transfer to NMSU should contact the Financial Aid Office as they may need to request a scholarship Transfer Transcript from their previous institution before NMSU can add the award to their student account. 

The Lottery Scholarship funds are provided, published, and enforced by the New Mexico Higher Education Department.

The intention of the Lottery and Opportunity scholarships is to ensure that eligible students do not have to pay for tuition or eligible fees out of (their own) pocket. Students who have been awarded other scholarships or grants that are designated to cover tuition and/or fees, will have their Lottery and Opportunity Scholarship awards reduced or cancelled for any term where tuition and fees are partially or fully covered by the other funding sources.

Initial Eligibility Requirements

The first semester a student attends a college or university full-time, is considered their Initial “Qualifying Semester” for the Lottery scholarship. Students will not be awarded or receive Lottery Scholarship Funds until their second semester of full-time enrollment begins and only if they have met all initial qualifying semester eligibility requirements. Lottery Track students will receive the NM Opportunity Scholarship award their first qualifying semester in order to cover both tuition and fees.

Student requirements for qualification:

  • Must have established New Mexico Residency at least, 12 months prior to graduating from a New Mexico High School or completing a High School Equivalency.
  • Must have graduated from a New Mexico High School or have a High School Equivalency credential.
  • Must not have yet earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.
  • Must be accepted into a 2-year or 4-year institution within 16 months following:
    • Graduation from a New Mexico high school, OR
    • Earning a New Mexico certificate of completion, OR
    • Receiving a New Mexico high school equivalency credential. (Home-school students must have a high school equivalency credential dated prior to the entering semester.)
  • Must meet initial qualifying semester eligibility requirements:
    • Enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester,
    • Successfully complete a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester, AND
    • Maintain a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative GPA.

Initial Award and Renewal Eligibility Requirements

To receive the Lottery Scholarship award initially and to maintain the award each semester, students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Maintain New Mexico Residency,
  • Maintain continuous enrollment:
    • 2-year program: students must enroll in and complete a minimum of 9 credit hours every fall and spring semesters,
    • 4-year program: students must enroll in and complete a minimum of 12 credits hours every fall and spring semesters,
    • Funding can be provided for 3 – 9 credit hours to any eligible student how enrolls in summer semester. Summer enrollment is not required to maintain continuous enrollment.
  • Successfully complete the minimum credit hours each academic year:
    • 2-year program: a minimum of 24 credit hours every academic year,
    • 4-year program: a minimum of 30 credit hours every academic year,
  • Maintain first-time degree-seeking student status. (Once a student completes a bachelor's, master’s, or doctoral degree, they no longer qualify for the Lottery scholarship),
  • Maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, AND
  • Complete the student’s degree within the maximum number of semesters available:
    • 2-year program: students can receive lottery funding for up to 3 fall and spring semesters,
    • 4-year program: students can receive lottery funding for up to 7 fall and spring semesters,
    • Lottery can be awarded for a maximum of 3 summer semesters throughout their entire degree program(s).

Other Provisions of Eligibility for the Lottery Scholarship

  • Students with a referral from NMSU Disability Access Services can be approved for an adjustment of the minimum credit hours requirement each semester:
    • Students with disabilities may require special accommodations and are encouraged to consult with NMSU's Disability Access Services in order to receive the accommodations deemed reasonable and appropriate based on the student's needs. Referrals and any supporting documentation should be submitted within 30 days of the start of the student’s qualifying semester.
  • Students are encouraged, but are not required, to complete a Free Application or Student Aid (FAFSA) to assist with scholarship renewal eligibility every academic year.
  • The following conditions apply to students transferring from one New Mexico Institution to NMSU:
    • a Transfer Transcript is required from the former institution before any scholarships can be added to the student’s NMSU account.

Lost Lottery Scholarship Eligibility Appeals

Students will automatically lose the Lottery Scholarship if renewal requirements are not met. Every student has the right to appeal the loss of eligibility for the scholarship, if and when the loss occurred because there was an exceptional mitigating circumstance that was beyond the student’s control.

  • If an appeal is submitted AND approved, the student will be put on probation for the following semester of enrollment. During the probationary period, the student will be required to meet renewal criteria in order to continue to receive the Lottery Scholarship.
  • If renewal requirements are met during this semester, Lottery will be reinstated for the next semester of enrollment.
  • If renewal requirements are not met, the student will lose Lottery funding eligibility for future terms of enrollment. Students may be offered Lottery funds during this probationary period.
  • If an appeal is submitted AND denied, the student will lose eligibility for the Lottery Scholarship and it cannot be reinstated.

The scholarship cannot be reinstated if a student exceeds the allowable semester maximum of 3 semesters at a 2-year institution or 7 semesters at a 4-year institution. 

To submit an appeal, fill out the Financial Aid Appeal Form. In addition to the Appeal Form, you will need to submit a separate typed, supporting document explaining the circumstances that prevented you from meeting the renewal requirements, along with any additional documentation that supports the explanation. Please read all instructions on the form in order to complete the appeal form correctly and accurately.