Applying for the Lottery Scholarship:

Lottery does not require an application!

• Any student deemed eligible is awarded the Lottery Scholarship automatically beginning after their “qualifying” term.
• Transfer students may need to submit a New Mexico Scholarship Transfer Transcript (NMSTT) completed by their previous NM institution before they can be awarded.

 Qualifying for the Lottery Scholarship:

To qualify for the Lottery Scholarship, you will need to:

• Enroll full time at a New Mexico public college or university within 16 months of high school graduation, or completion of a high school equivalency or home school certificate.
• Full time means:
  • Successfully complete at least twelve credit hours with a semester GPA of 2.5 or better in the first term of college, the Qualifying Semester.
  • Student MUST successfully complete 30 credits hours per academic year (Fall, Spring, and Summer).
• Achieve and maintain a 2.5 grade point average (GPA).
• Maintain full-time enrollment every fall and spring semesters.
• *Please note that students with disabilities may qualify for reduced credit hour requirements and additional semesters of the scholarship.
• If ALL the above requirements are NOT met a student is NOT eligible to receive the New Mexico Legislative Lottery Scholarship. Only exceptional mitigating circumstances that are beyond the student's control and precluded the student from meeting the requirements during their Qualifying Semester can be considered and will require the submission of a Scholarship Petition with supporting documentation. See the section below about Regaining Eligibility for Lottery.

Initial Award and Amount of Award:

The Legislative Lottery Scholarship will be awarded for the second semester of attendance to students who have met all the eligibility requirements during their “Qualifying” Semester. The scholarship pays up to $4,252 of tuition per semester for the 2024/2025 academic year – it does NOT cover mandatory student fees or course fees. It can be awarded for summer semesters if student requires to make up credit hours. In your first “qualifying” semester, you can receive Opportunity and/or the Bridge Scholarship.

Maintaining your Lottery Scholarship:

To remain eligible to receive the Lottery Scholarship a student must complete at least 12 credit hours in each consecutive fall and spring terms while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better. A student MUST complete 30 credit hours by the end of the academic year, summer can be used to help meet the credit hour requirement.

Branch Campus students need to complete at least 9 credit hours in each consecutive fall and spring terms while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better. A branch campus student MUST complete 24 credit hours by the end of the academic year, summer can be used to help meet the credit requirement.

What is counted in my GPA?  Grade Point Average (GPA) is the average of traditional letter grades, A, B, C, D, F and WF. The grade of CR counts towards total credit hours completed but does not affect GPA. Grades of F, NC, I, W, WP, WF and Audit do NOT count towards total credit hours completed but may negatively impact GPA.

Deadlines

These must be submitted by end of the third week of the semester:

• Accessibility Resource Center waivers
• Scholarship Petition
• Consortium Agreements

*Any disbursements after the add/drop period for the applicable term, will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

How long can I receive the Lottery Scholarship?

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university who continue to meet eligibility requirements can receive the scholarship up to seven regular semesters and 3 summer semesters or when they complete their first bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first.

Students attending a community college can receive the Lottery Scholarship for up to three semesters.

Students with Disabilities:

Students with qualified disabilities who are registered with UNM’s Accessibility Resource Center may be approved to attend part time up to 14 terms.  All other Lottery requirements remain the same.

Consortium Agreement:

Students can maintain full time enrollment by taking classes at multiple public New Mexico secondary educational institutions. The Lottery Scholarship will be adjusted to pay tuition accrued at UNM and tuition accrued at the host school. To mix enrollment between schools, students MUST complete the Consortium Agreement Form and submit it to the Student Financial Aid Office.

Summer Lottery Awards:

• May enroll in 3-9 credits during summer
• Funding for up to 3 summer terms
• Summer is optional, unless attendance is required to MAINTAIN eligibility or as part of accelerated program

Regaining Eligibility:

It is possible the student may lose eligibility. If a student has not met the eligibility requirements, they may submit a petition for a probationary semester. Students that are granted a probationary semester to re-establish eligibility may receive funding during the probationary semester. All probationary semester determinations made by the institution are final.

Scholarship Petitions: Students can also re-establish eligibility if an exceptional mitigating circumstance which precluded the student from completing the requirements exists. To do so, students MUST submit a Scholarship Petition with a personal statement explaining the mitigating circumstance. Supporting documentation must also be submitted.

If a student is NOT registered full time by the end of the 3rd week of classes, the student forfeits eligibility for the Lottery Scholarship and can no longer receive Lottery funding.

Leave of Absence/Exception to Continuing Eligibility:

Previously qualified students may be approved for a leave of absence for cooperative education, military obligations, participation in a study abroad program, or other exceptional mitigating circumstance. A Petition for Leave of Absence with supporting documentation must be submitted to UNM’s Student Financial Aid Office for consideration. Students will be emailed once a decision is made or if additional documentation is needed.

****NOTE: Information contained in this document is subject to change. All information pertaining to the NM Legislative Lottery Success Scholarship is subject to Legislature change.****