Enrollment at New Mexico’s public colleges and universities continues to increase, thanks in part to the Opportunity Scholarship Act, which allows residents to attend college for free.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced enrollment is up 6% for the spring 2023 session, compared to the same session last year.
“New Mexico continues to lead the nation in higher education access, and these numbers are proof that our bold investment in New Mexicans through the Opportunity Scholarship is changing the lives of tens of thousands of students and their families,” the government said to KRQE.
The governor’s office said more than 36,000 New Mexicans utilized the Opportunity Scholarship this past fall with an estimated 30% being first-time freshmen. More than 20% of those who receive an Opportunity Scholarship also use the Lottery Scholarship, KRQE reports.
New Mexico lawmakers last year approved $75 million to fund the Opportunity Scholarship program, which allows state residents to earn a credit-bearing certificate, associate or bachelor’s degree tuition-free, as long as they earn a 2.5 GPA or better.
The Lottery Scholarship is specifically aimed at recent high school graduates or honorably discharged veterans.
Stephanie Rodriguez of the state’s Higher Education Department is a huge supporter of the Opportunity Scholarship program.
“This is an opportunity for people to get that leg up,” Rodriguez said to KRQE in March 2022. “They can go back to school, but do it in a way that is manageable for their families, and once they’re done, enter family-sustaining careers, with high wages.”
Independent community colleges have seen the largest increase in enrollment this spring, up 11.6% from a year ago. The community colleges also had the largest increase during the fall enrollment, at 7.3%. Comprehensive colleges, such as the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State, enjoyed a 7% increase this spring compared to last year.
