The Opportunity Scholarship has been credited with an increase in enrollment at New Mexico State University reversing a trend that saw a 27% drop in enrollment over the last decade, according to a recent KRQE report.

The scholarship was expanded this year to cover all tuition and fees for students provided they have lived in New Mexico for a year, have a high school diploma, and earn at least a 2.5 Grade Point Average. The program is credited with NMSU seeing a 2.7% increase in its student body.

“We’re seeing the largest freshman class since the fall of 2009,” Dr. Renay Scott, the vice president of Student Success at NMSU told KRQE.

After a slight increase in enrollment in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic played a role in potential students not attending college, Scott said. But the Opportunity Scholarship has given students a financial incentive to return.

“I think the Opportunity Scholarship gives those students that little bit of comfort, knowing ‘hey I at least have this, and it will help me stay in school and I can accomplish my goal,” Scott said.

The university, whose main campus is in Las Cruces, New Mexico, conducted focus groups to survey why students attend college. Out of 21,000 students this year on all NMSU’s campuses, data shows more than 9,000 receive the Opportunity Scholarship.

“What I like about what they mentioned was it really allows me the opportunity not to have to work as much while I go to school, and I really feel like I can focus on my studies,” Scott said