New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship

Scholarship Information

The Opportunity Scholarship is awarded during the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms and will cover up to 100% of tuition and required fees and up to $50 per credit hour for course-specific fees. There is no application required for the Opportunity Scholarship. If you meet the eligibility criteria, the Scholarship will be awarded. Per the legislative rule governing the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship, only up to nine (9) credit hours are covered during the summer semester.

For 2024-2025, the Fast Track programs, CNM Online College, and Law Enforcement Academy will be covered at $118.00 per credit hour. The Electroneurodiagnostic Technology program will be covered at $193.00 per credit hour.

For 2023-2024, the Fast Track programs, CNM Online College, and Law Enforcement Academy will be covered at $116.00 per credit hour. The Electroneurodiagnostic Technology program will be covered at $191.00 per credit hour.

Specialty Programs will not be covered at 100%, per NMHED. 

At CNM, a recipient receiving the Opportunity Scholarship who is also awarded the Lottery scholarship will receive three terms of funding or an associate's degree, whichever comes first. Students who maintain eligibility can transfer the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships to a four-year institution and may be eligible for up to seven terms.

You can visit the New Mexico Higher Education Department website for more information. 

Qualifying Requirements 

• There is no application required, the institution will determine eligibility. Reach out to [email protected] if you have questions.
• Must be a New Mexico resident.
• Must have a high school diploma, GED, or received a high school equivalency credential (HSE).
  
  • Recent graduate learners must have graduated from an accredited NM high school or complete a PED approved home school program.
  • You can submit this documentation to CNM by email or bring it to CNM.
• Do not exceed 90 attempted credit hours for completion of an associate degree.
  • The scholarship covers up to 90 credit hours for an associate degree and 160 credit hours for a bachelor's degree.
• Non-credit programs are not eligible for this scholarship.
• Students are encouraged, but not required, to complete a FAFSA. 

Note: If you have 90 attempted hours or have an associate, bachelor, master's or doctoral degree, you are not eligible for the Opportunity Scholarship at CNM. 

Requesting Your High School Credential

If you do not have your high school credential on hand, reach out to your high school to request a copy. These are some additional resources for requesting your documents: 

• If you earned a high school diploma, Parchment may have a copy.
  • Parchment
  • Setting up a Parchment Account
• If you earned a GED or high school equivalency (HSE):
  • Order your credential from Diploma Sender.

Note: If you have 90 attempted hours or have an associate, bachelor, master's or doctoral degree, you are not eligible for the Opportunity Scholarship at CNM. 

Eligibility

• Consecutive enrollment (six or more credit hours) for Fall and Spring terms is required. Summer term is optional; however, 3 credit hours are required to maintain eligibility, but no more than 9 credit hours will be paid. 
• Recent graduate learners must be enrolled in 12 credits hours, but no more than 18 credits hours for the Fall and Spring semester.  

Returning Student Learners Eligibility

• You are a New Mexico resident.
• You are a returning student learner or ineligible for the Lottery Scholarship.
• Enroll in minimum of 6 credits.
• Maintain a 2.5 GPA starting the first semester you receive the scholarship.
• You have not earned an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree.
• Consecutive enrollment (6 or more credit hours) for Fall and Spring terms is required. Summer term is optional and will pay a minimum of 3 or more credit hours, but no more than 9 credit hours.

Recent Graduate Learners (Lottery Track) Eligibility

• You are a New Mexico resident.
• Graduated from a New Mexico public or accredited private high school, completed requirements as home school students registered with the state, or received a high school equivalency credential (HSE) while living in NM.
• Enroll full-time at CNM within 15 months of graduating from high school. If enlisted in the military immediately following high school, you are also eligible.
• Establish and maintain a 2.5 GPA beginning with your first semester and complete 24 credit hours successfully each academic year (community college).
• If you completed an associate degree while enrolled in the Dual Credit program, you must enroll in a four-year university to complete a bachelor's degree.
• Recent high school graduate learners must be enrolled in 12 credits hours within 15 months after graduating high school but no more than 18 credits hours for the Fall and Spring semester.
• Consecutive enrollment for Fall and Spring terms (6 or more credits for returning students and 12 or more credits for recent graduates). Summer term is optional and will pay a minimum of 3 or more credit hours, but no more than 9 credit hours.

Financial need is not a consideration for the Opportunity Scholarship. A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is not required but is recommended by CNM.

Transfer Students

• You must submit to CNM a New Mexico Scholarship Transfer Transcript, to be completed by the institution from which you are transferring.  
• You must meet all eligibility requirements listed above.
• Transfer hours are included in 90 credit hour maximum.
• All transcripts from prior colleges will need to be submitted to be reviewed for eligibility.

Duration of the Scholarship

Scholarships may continue for you up to 90 attempted credit hours or the completion of an associate degree, whichever comes first. Once an associate degree is obtained, you will no longer be eligible at CNM and can continue towards a bachelor's degree at a university. 

Recent graduate learners (Lottery Track) can receive the Opportunity and Lottery for three terms at CNM and are then required to transfer to a four-year university to maintain eligibility. For more information on recent graduate learners and Lottery please visit the NM HED website.  

Recent graduate learners must enroll full-time (at least 12 credit hours no more than 18 credit hours for Fall and Spring semesters) in a credit-bearing two-year program. 

Students With Disabilities

This applies to recent graduate learners only. Students with a qualified disability who are registered with CNM’s Accessibility Services may be approved to attend and complete a reduced number of credits (6-11 credits) for up to seven terms at CNM. If a reduced number of credits is determined appropriate, a new waiver is required each term and must be on file within 30 days of the start of the term. All other Opportunity requirements remain the same.

Probationary Status

You can apply for probationary status if you cannot meet the Opportunity Scholarship requirements because of an exceptional mitigating circumstance beyond your control. Fill out the Request for Probationary Status form, attach the required documentation, then submit it to [email protected] for review. Please contact Scholarship Services for more information. Incomplete probationary requests will not be reviewed.

Financial need is not a consideration for the Lottery. A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is not required but is recommended by CNM.

• A probation period is allowed for exceptional circumstances on a per-term basis. A leave of absence can be renewable yearly at the higher education institution.
• The scholarship may be renewed two years after losing eligibility and exhausting an allowable probation period.
• If a probationary appeal is not granted, reinstatement of Opportunity can be petitioned no sooner than two years following the end of the semester when eligibility was lost. 

Calculate Your Qualifying Term

New Mexico high school graduates or New Mexico high school equivalency recipients will have up to 15 months from the date they receive their high school credentials to begin their post-secondary education and complete their Qualifying Term.

Calculate Your Qualifying Term

Information contained in this document is subject to change. All information pertaining to the NM Opportunity Scholarship is subject to legislative change.