Unique Scholarship Allows Non-Residents to Pay In-State Tuition

Española, NM – Northern New Mexico College’s Board of Regents on Friday approved the Bienvenido Non-Resident Scholarship Program, allowing recipients to pay in-state tuition.

The academically competitive scholarship aims to attract high performing students from across the country to further enrich Northern’s diverse and talented student population.

In keeping with Northern’s significant non-traditional student body, the Bienvenido Scholarship will be the only one of its kind in New Mexico that is also open to High School Equivalency/GED graduates based on their test scores.

Applicants must be non-residents in New Mexico and meet at least one of the following criteria:

–       A minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.0;

–       23 or greater on an ACT exam;

–       1070 or greater on an SAT exam;

–       Have completed at least 12 higher education credit hours with a cumulative higher education GPA of 3.0 or higher.

High School Equivalency graduates with the following test scores will also qualify for the scholarship program:

–       HISET: 60 (total score)

–       TASC: 500 (total score)

–       GED (for years 2002-2014): 600 (total score)

–       PearsonVue GED (years 2014 and later): 150 (total score).

Applicants must enroll and complete a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester (fall and spring) and maintain a college cumulative GPA of 2.5, to continue to receive the scholarship.

“Our motivation in creating this scholarship is to better serve our local students in northern New Mexico,” said President Richard J. Bailey Jr.

“This scholarship will help Northern attract more students, make us more fiscally self-sufficient, and put us on a better long-term footing. With our nationally accredited quality programs, our thoughtful world-class faculty, and our remarkable affordability, Northern New Mexico College will become even more of an attractive educational destination.”

Northern is the most affordable four-year college in the U.S. Southwest, with full-time resident students paying $1630.20 in tuition per semester, and full-time non-resident students paying $6056.82 per semester.

“This scholarship will give non-resident students access to our quality accredited degree programs at the most affordable rates in the region. It will also provide a rare pathway for non-traditional students to access a great and affordable education,” said Dr. Ivan Lopez, Northern’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Northern New Mexico College is a minority-serving institution, offering bachelor’s, associate, and certificate programs.

The college primarily serves rural communities within a 40-mile radius of its campus in Española, New Mexico, within one of the most underserved regions in the state.