As alleviating the enormous burden of student debt gains popularity on the national stage, more individual universities, cities, and even states are offering forms of free higher education. Who qualifies tends to vary, as does what is actually covered; while Cornell’s Weill Medical College will go as far as covering books and housing for students who qualify for financial aid, New York state is offering free tuition at city and state colleges and universities for residents who make less than $125,000.
The latest state to join the free college movement is New Mexico. And New Mexico is doing something truly unique: It is offering free tuition to every state resident who is accepted to state schools, no matter their income level. The plan is called the Opportunity Scholarship and would go into effect for the fall 2020 semester.
As the state’s Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham laid out, the plan will help about 55,000 students each year. The plan aims to make all two- and four-year public institutions tuition-free in the state. Adults who are returning to two-year community colleges would also be covered.
The Opportunity Scholarship would cover fees that are not paid by either federal grants or the state’s Lottery Scholarship. New Mexico’s Lottery Scholarship usually leaves between 25% and 40% of the cost remaining, says the governor's office.
Room and board, however, are not covered. Neither are books or possible childcare costs.
The funds will come directly from the state budget, thanks to a recent increase in revenue from oil production. The annual cost is estimated to be between $25 million and $35 million. To give you an idea of how this breaks down, the annual tuition for New Mexico residents is $7,500 at the University of New Mexico. At community colleges, tuition usually hits $3,000 per year.
In order to become a reality, the proposal will need to pass both houses of the New Mexico Legislature. Given that both houses are controlled by Democrats, this shouldn’t be a problem.
“This program is an absolute game changer for New Mexico,” Grisham said. “In the long run, we’ll see improved economic growth, improved outcomes for New Mexican workers and families and parents.”