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Scholarships
- Scholarships Find out how to get scholarship money for college that you don’t need to pay back.
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Scholarships
Top New Mexico scholarships for you
Find New Mexico scholarships that can help you pay for college.
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What are New Mexico scholarships?
New Mexico scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for students living in New Mexico or looking to go to school in New Mexico. New Mexico scholarships can help students attain higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach due to financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back.
Eligibility requirements for New Mexico scholarships
Before you apply for New Mexico scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements. To qualify for New Mexico scholarships, you’ll most likely need to prove you’re a resident or you’re attending school in that state. Some other common eligibility requirements may include your GPA, community service, citizenship, plan to attend an accredited program, leadership potential, and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Scholarship eligibility requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Check them out!
Are New Mexico scholarships worth my time?
Some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for. Others require time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply to scholarships that require work which means you could have better odds of winning.
Pro tip: Don’t skip over New Mexico scholarships with smaller award amounts ($). There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!
How do I find New Mexico scholarships?
There are many resources to help you find New Mexico scholarships.
Scholarship resources
- The financial aid office at a college or career school
- Organizations (such as professional associations) related to your field of interest
- Federal agencies
- Free scholarship search tools like Scholly Scholarships
- Local libraries, businesses, or associations
Your high school guidance office is a great place to start when looking for local scholarships. You could also try doing a search for your city’s name and “community foundation,” or the county you live in and “foundation.”
Scholly Scholarships
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Easily search through thousands of college scholarships based on your background, major, state you live in, and more.
Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.
Scholarships for New Mexico
WICHE's Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP)
Due: Varies
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount Varies
The WICHE's Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) is open to students who are residents of WICHE-region state or territory, applying to a participating public university in another Western state. Students must apply directly to the University's graduate school. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information about the application and eligible programs and institutions.
WICHE's Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
Due: Varies
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount Varies
The WICHE's Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) is an agreement among WICHE's 16 members, through which 160 and more participating public colleges and universities provide steep nonresident tuition savings for Western students. It is open to students who are residents of WICHE-region state or territory, applying to a participating college or university in another of WICHE's 16 states and territories. Students must apply directly to the schools and indicate their interest in seeking WUE in the application. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information about the application and eligible programs and institutions.
Vietnam Veteran Scholarship
Due: Varies
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount Varies
The Vietnam Veteran Scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students to provide for tuition, fees, and book allowances to Vietnam Veterans certified by the New Mexico Veterans' Service Commission. The scholarship covers tuition for state-funded schools. If attending a non-state school, reimbursement is limited to the highest state school tuition and follows financial aid rules. Eligibility includes New Mexico residents with an honorable discharge from the US Armed Forces, who were in Vietnam from August 5, 1964, to the conflict's official end, and have the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Residency can be original or after 10 or more years of living in New Mexico. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
New Mexico Health Professional Loan Repayment Program
Due: 5/1/2025
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount Varies
The New Mexico Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP) aims to provide repayment for outstanding student loans of practicing health professionals. As a condition of the program, a health professional must make a three-year service commitment to practice full-time in a designated medical shortage area in New Mexico. The HPLRP is a competitive program. Application to the program does not guarantee funding. Applicants must have been New Mexico residents for 12 consecutive months. They must be licensed or certified in the State of New Mexico; employed full-time (36 hours); and are currently providing clinical care to patients. The New Mexico Health Advisory Committee reviews each individual application, assigning a score using a matrix in the following areas: HPSA Score (Federal); Service Area; Area Health Statistics Key Indicators (determined by the New Mexico Department of Health); Population Served. Priority will be given to those applicants working in designated areas of greatest need. If a program participant does not comply with the terms of the participation agreement, the department shall assess a penalty of three times the amount of the award disbursed, plus eighteen percent interest. Please visit the award's website or contact the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education for more information.
New Mexico Scholars Scholarship
Due: Varies
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount Varies
The New Mexico Scholars Scholarship encourages New Mexico high school graduates to enroll in college in New Mexico before their 21st birthday in an undergraduate program. Applicants must have graduated from a New Mexico high school in the top 5 percent of their class or obtain a score of 25 on the ACT or 1140 on the SAT. Applicants must also have a combined family income that may not exceed $60,000 per year. Students shall contact their college for the eligibility period; apply at the eligible institution they will be attending; and contact their institution's financial aid office for application instruction.
New Mexico Student Incentive Grant
Due: Varies
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$2,500
The New Mexico Student Incentive Grant is for students with substantial financial need who are attending a public college or university or tribal college. Applicants must have completed a high school diploma or high school equivalency credential. Students shall contact their college for the eligibility period; apply at the eligible institution they will be attending; and contact their institution's financial aid office for application instruction.
Allied Health Loan-For-Service Program
Due: 7/1/2025
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
$12,000
The purpose of the Allied Health Loan-For-Service is to increase the number of physician assistants in areas of the state which have experienced shortages of health practitioners, by making educational loans to students seeking certification/licensure in an eligible health field which include Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, Pharmacy, Respiratory Care, Laboratory Technology, Mental Health-Social Services, Emergency Medical Services, Nutrition, and Dental Hygiene. As a condition of each loan, the student shall declare their intent to practice as a health professional in a designated shortage area within the state of New Mexico. Please download the Institution Certification Form for the Financial Aid Office at your institution to complete. Please upload the completed signed form to your electronic application. Please contact the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education for more information.
Nursing Loan-For-Service Program
Due: 7/1/2025
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
$12,000
The Nursing Loan-For-Service aims to increase the number of nurses in areas of the state which have experienced shortages by making educational loans to students entering nursing programs. As a condition of each loan, the student shall declare their intent to practice as a health professional in a designated shortage area within the state of New Mexico. Please download the Institution Certification Form for the Financial Aid Office at your institution to complete. Please upload the completed signed form to your electronic application. Please contact the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education for more information.
Vietnam Veterans' Scholarship
Due: Varies
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount Varies
The Vietnam Veterans' Scholarship is a state scholarship for students who are Vietnam Veterans certified by the New Mexico Veterans' Service Commission. Applicants must be honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States, who was a resident of New Mexico at original time of entry into the armed forces or who has lived in New Mexico for 10 years or more; been awarded the Vietnam campaign medal for services in the armed forces of this country in Vietnam during the period of August 5, 1964 to the official termination of the Vietnam conflict as designated by executive order of the President of the United States. Please contact the New Mexico Department of Veterans' Service for more information.
What types of scholarships are available for students?
Need-based scholarships
These are scholarships for students who have demonstrated a financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. The federal government as well as specific organizations, corporations, and colleges/universities/schools offer need-based scholarships.
Merit scholarships
Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid—highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself. For some schools, you need to submit the FAFSA® to be eligible.
Career-specific grants or scholarships
These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry. Maybe they know they want to be a teacher, a nurse, or an engineer. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the FAFSA®. To find career-specific scholarships, try searching for your major and “association.”
Community or nonprofit scholarships
Nonprofit and community organizations often receive funding from donors to create scholarship programs for students who need them.
Tips for successful scholarship applications
- Pull together everything you need for the application including transcripts, so you can submit a complete scholarship application.
- You may need a recommendation letter or letters for a scholarship. Ask a teacher, employer, or someone else who knows you to write one for you—and be sure to give them enough time to do it.
- If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. A few well-written essays that you can reuse for different scholarship applications can really pay off.
- Highlight your strengths and achievements in your application.
- Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won. How would it help?
- Have to interview for a scholarship? Dress to impress in a professional outfit. And do your research! Look into how/why the scholarship was created. Try to bring up why it’s meaningful to you. Also, don’t forget to send a thank-you note afterwards.
- Keep track of all the deadlines for the scholarships you’re applying to. If you miss one, they may not extend the due date.
- Apply for scholarships year after year, all through college. As you continue your studies, gain more experience, and try new extracurricular activities in college, you might be eligible for more scholarships you weren’t originally qualified for.
Here are more tips that can help you understand all there is to know about scholarships and up your chances of winning.
Frequently asked questions
These tips can help as you get ready to apply for New Mexico scholarships.
When are scholarship application deadlines?
There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so be sure to keep track of dates and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines of scholarships that you want to apply to.
Do you need to know which college you’re attending?
You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships. However, once you’re awarded scholarships, some of them may ask for eligibility verification—which can include proof of college enrollment.
Is there a limit on how many scholarships you can apply for?
Absolutely not, so apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of winning free money. Want to find more types of scholarships? There are so many, check them out!
Pro tip: Apply for scholarships each year you’re in college.
Does every scholarship application require an essay?
Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay—different scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.
Need more money for college?
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More resources to explore
Tips for writing scholarship essays
Get tips for writing scholarship essays. Learn what makes a good scholarship essay.
Find scholarship resources
Explore our scholarship resources, articles, and guide to get all the tips and tricks to help pay for college.
Fill out the FAFSA®
Learn when and how to apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to maximize your chances of getting federal student financial aid. Get tips now.
*No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Ends 12/31/2025.
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SLM Education Services, LLC does not provide, and these materials are not meant to convey, financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult your own financial advisor, tax advisor, or attorney about your specific circumstances.
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