**Disclaimer: Scholarships are awarded based on specified criteria and available funding.**

Effective Fall 2025

Freshman Scholarships:
Freshman scholarships are awarded based on a student’s admission status. No separate scholarship application is required.

Scholarship Checklist

Scholarship Guidance 

Freshmen Success Scholarship: $1,000 (Fall semester only)

• 2.5 – 2.99 high school GPA.
• Must complete 15 credit hours with a 2.5 GPA.
• Will convert to the NM Legislative Lottery Scholarship for up to seven semesters upon completing 15 credit hours per semester with a minimum 2.5 GPA.

Dean’s Scholarship: $2,800 ($2,000 first semester and $800 second semester)

• 3.0 – 3.49 high school GPA.
• Will convert to the NM Legislative Lottery Scholarship plus $800 for up to seven semesters upon completing 15 credit hours per semester with a 2.5 GPA.
• Total eligibility is eight semesters.

Presidential Silver Scholarship: $4,700 ($3,200 first semester and $1,500 second semester)

• 3.5 – 3.74 high school GPA.
• Will convert to the NM Legislative Lottery Scholarship plus $1,500 for up to seven semesters upon completing 15 credit hours per semester with a 2.5 GPA.
• Total eligibility is eight semesters.

Presidential Gold Scholarship: $5,700 ($3,700 first semester and $2,000 second semester)

• 3.75 high school GPA.
• Will convert to the NM Legislative Lottery Scholarship plus $2,000 for up to seven semesters upon completing 15 credit hours per semester with a 2.5 GPA.
• Total eligibility is eight semesters.

Regent’s New Mexico Scholars Scholarship: Allocation from the state

• Top 5% of graduating class.
• Composite ACT score of 25 or total SAT score of 1140.
• Combined family income of no more than $60,000.
• Renewable for up to seven semesters.
• Must complete 15 credit hours with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• Total eligibility is eight semesters.

New Mexico Legislative Lottery Scholarship

• The amount is authorized by the New Mexico Legislature each year.
• Must be a New Mexico resident.
• Must be a 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 awarded for up to seven semesters, provided the student maintains a minimum 2.5 GPA and completes 15 credit hours per semester.

New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship

• Must be a New Mexico resident.
• Enrolled for a minimum of six credit hours but not more than 18 credit hours.
• Earned fewer than 90 credit hours if pursuing an associate degree.
• Earned fewer than 160 credit hours if pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
• Must maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher.

滚球网站 Purple and White: $5,000 ($2,500 per semester)

• 3.0 high school GPA.
• Must complete 15 credit hours per semester with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
• Renewable for up to seven semesters.
• Must live on campus in residence halls.
• Must purchase a university meal plan.

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. Available to NM residents and non-residents.

滚球网站 Purple and White Transfer: $5,000 ($2,500 per semester)

• 3.0 transfer GPA.
• Must complete 15 credit hours per semester with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
• Renewable for up to four semesters.
• Does not apply to online programs.

Graduate Presidential Scholarship: $2,500 ($1,250 per semester)

• Must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a 3.5 or higher GPA.
• Renewable for three semesters.
• Must complete nine credit hours with a 3.0 or higher GPA.
• Does not apply to online programs.
• 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 is given to New Mexico students from the most underrepresented groups and those 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 a permanent resident.
• Agree to serve in an unpaid internship or assistantship at the eligible institution, a government agency, or private industry approved by their major department for ten hours per week during the academic year.
• Agree to work a half-time graduate assistantship for a stipend and receive a six-credit-hour tuition waiver.
• Be eligible according to standard needs analysis or the 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 the final applications, the Office of Graduate Studies notifies awardees by the end of May each year.

Foundation Scholarships:

Currently enrolled at Highlands. Apply using the Foundation  Scholarship Application.

Undergraduate students
If you are an undergraduate student with a GPA of 2.5 or higher, you should apply for state, university, and Highlands Foundation scholarships.

New student or considering applying?

You do not need to be enrolled to apply for Foundation scholarships.

Complete List of Foundation Scholarships

Regardless of your financial situation, if you are a high-achieving student, you should always apply for university scholarships.

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships maintains information on external scholarship opportunities, which you can review here. These scholarships require a separate application and may have different deadlines.

If you receive outside scholarship support, you must report it to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to ensure it is included in your financial aid package.