**Disclaimer: Scholarships are awarded based on noted criteria and fund availability.**
Effective Fall 2023
Freshman Scholarships:
Freshman scholarships are awarded based on a student’s admissions status. A scholarship application is not required for these awards.
New Mexico Residents:
Freshmen Success Scholarship: $1,000 Fall semester only
- 2.5 – 2.99 HS GPA per high school transcript.
- Must complete 15 credit hours with a 2.5 GPA.
- Will convert to NM Legislative Lottery Scholarship for 7 semesters upon completion of 15 credit hours per semester with a 2.5 GPA.
Dean’s Scholarship: $2,800 ($2,000 first semester and $800 second semester)
- 3.0 -3.49 HS GPA per high school transcript.
- Will convert to NM Legislative Lottery Scholarship plus $800 for 7 semesters upon the completion of 15 credits per semester with a 2.5 GPA.
Total eligibility is 8 semesters.
Presidential Silver Scholarship: $4,700 ($3,200 first semester and $1,500 second semester)
- 3.5 – 3.74 HS GPA and 22 ACT per official transcript.
- Will convert to NM Legislative Lottery Scholarship plus $1,500 for 7 semesters upon the completion of 15 credits per semester with a 2.5 GPA.
Total eligibility is 8 semesters.
Presidential Gold Scholarship: $5,700 ($3,700 first semester and $2,000 second semester)
- 3.75 HS GPA and 25 ACT per official transcripts.
- Will convert to NM Legislative Lottery Scholarship plus $2,000 for 7 semesters upon the completion of 15 credits per semester with a 2.5 GPA.
Total eligibility is 8 semesters.
Regent’s New Mexico Scholars Scholarship: Allocation from the state.
- Top 5% of graduating class.
- Composite ACT score of 25 or total SAT of 1140.
- Combined family income of no more than $60,000.
- Renewable for up to 7 semesters.
- Must complete 15 credit hours with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Total eligibility is 8 semesters.
New Mexico Legislative Lottery Scholarship: Amount is authorized by the New Mexico Legislature each year.
- Must be a New Mexico Resident.
- Recent graduate from a public or accredited private New Mexico high school, or have obtained a New Mexico GED.
- Must complete 15 or more college credit hours with a 2.5 GPA in their first semester.
- May be earned for a total of 7 semesters subject to maintaining a 2.5 GPA and 15 credit hours per semester.
New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship
- Must be New Mexico Resident
- Enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours but not more than 18 credit hours.
- Earned less than 90 credit hours if attempting a associate degree.
- Earned less than 160 credit hours if attempting a bachelor’s degree.
- Maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher.
Understanding Tuition-Free College in New Mexico – YouTube
Freshmen Out-of-state Scholarships:
NMHU Purple and White: $5,000 ($2,500 per semester.)
- 3.0 or higher GPA per high school transcript.
- Must complete 15 credit hours per semester with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
- Renewable for up to 7 semesters.
- Must live on-campus in residence halls.
- Must purchase a university meal plan.
Transfer Students:
Transfer scholarships are awarded based on a student’s admission status on a first-come, first served basis. It is important to apply for admission as soon as possible.
New Mexico Residents:
Dean’s Transfer Scholarship: $1,000 ($500 per semester)
- 3.0 or higher transfer GPA.
- Must complete 12 credit hours per semester and maintain a 2.5 GPA.
- Renewable for up to 6 semesters.
- Does not apply to online programs.
Presidential Transfer Scholarship: $2,000 ($1,000 per semester)
- 3.0 or higher transfer GPA.
- Associate’s Degree conferred.
- Must complete 12 credit hours per semester and maintain 2.5 GPA.
- Renewable for up to 4 semesters.
- Does not apply to online programs.
Out-of-State Residents:
New Mexico Success Transfer Scholarship: $4,000 ($2,000 per semester)
- 3.0 transfer GPA.
- Associate’s Degree conferred.
- Renewable for up to 4 semesters.
- Must complete 12 credit hours per semesters with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
- Must live on-campus in residence halls.
- Must purchase a university meal plan.
- Does not apply to online programs.
Graduate Students:
Graduate Presidential Scholarship: $2,500 ($1,250 per semester)
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a 3.5 or higher GPA.
- Renewable for 3 semesters.
- Must complete 9 credit hours with a 3.0 or higher GPA.
- Does not apply to online program.
- Graduate Assistantship recipients do not qualify.
New Mexico Graduate Scholarship Program
Office of Graduate Studies
Sininger Hall Suite 210
505-454-3266
The New Mexico Graduate Scholarship Program is limited to the funding available and the amount of funding changes each year. A full-time scholarship carries a stipend of $7,200 per academic year and must be matched by a half-time assistantship from the academic unit.
Priority will be given to New Mexico students from those groups with the most severe underrepresentation and students with the greatest financial need. Applicants are nominated by their programs and must meet the following qualifications:
- Be a citizen of the United States or permanent resident.
- Agree to serve in an unpaid internship or assistantship at the eligible institution, a government agency or private industry approved by his major department for ten hours per week during the academic year.
- Agree to work a half graduate assistantship for a small stipend plus a six credit-hour tuition waiver.
- Be eligible according to a standard needs analysis or financial aid officer’s professional judgment.
Nomination forms and applications are emailed to the graduate coordinators in each program in March of every year. The graduate coordinators will submit their nominations to the academic dean for approval. Once the graduate dean approves of the final applications, the Office of Graduate Studies notifies awardees by the end of May of each year.
Foundation Scholarships:
Are you currently enrolled at Highlands? Here is the Foundation Scholarship Application for current students.
Undergraduate students
If you are an undergraduate student with a grade point average of 2.5 or better, you should apply for state, university and Highlands Foundation scholarships.
Are you a new student, or just thinking about it? You don’t need to be enrolled to apply for these Foundation scholarships.
Complete List of Foundation Scholarships
External Scholarships
Regardless of your money situation, if you are an academic high achiever, you should always apply for scholarships at the university. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships also keeps information regarding scholarship listings that are available outside of the University, and you should check them out, Here. These scholarships require a separate application and have different (earlier and later) deadlines. If you do receive outside scholarship support, this must be reported to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to be included as part of your financial aid package.