Govs Get It Done: New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Announces Plan for Free College for New Mexican Students

“This program is an absolute game-changer for New Mexico” – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

“[O]ne of the boldest state-led efforts to expand access to higher education” – The New York Times

Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today announced her plan to make college tuition-free for New Mexico’s in-state students. The program, called the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship, will act as a “last-dollar” program, covering any tuition and fees not paid for by federal grants or the New Mexico Lottery Scholarship. Along with existing state and federal scholarship and grant infrastructure, the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship will provide for 100 percent of undergraduate tuition and fees at New Mexico institutions of higher education for eligible in-state students. An estimated 55,000 students will benefit from the new program in Fall 2020.
New Mexico joins New York as the second state in the nation to offer tuition-free college to its residents.
Read more about the game-changing program below:
The New York Times: New Mexico Announces Plan for Free College for State Residents
In one of the boldest state-led efforts to expand access to higher education, New Mexico is unveiling a plan on Wednesday to make tuition at its public colleges and universities free for all state residents, regardless of family income.
Slate: New Mexico Puts Forward Bold Plan to Make College Free for Everyone in the State
New Mexico is set to announce an ambitious plan Wednesday to boost higher education and alleviate debt burdens on students by making all of its 29 two- and four-year public institutions tuition-free for all in-state students regardless of family income. The plan outlined by the state’s Democratic governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, aims to benefit about 55,000 students each year at an annual cost of $25 million to $35 million, according to New Mexico’s Higher Education Department. The proposal will now need to pass through both houses of the state Legislature, both of which are controlled by Democrats.
Forbes: New Mexico Goes Big On Free College: New Plan Would Pay Tuition For All Residents At Two-Year And Four-Year Colleges
New Mexico is expected to announce today one of the nation’s most ambitious free college plans. The proposal would cover tuition at all of the state’s 29 public two-year and four-year colleges, and students would be eligible for the support regardless of their family income.
The move still needs to be approved by New Mexico’s legislature, but passage is expected.