FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2022
HACU commends Governor Lujan Grisham for signing legislation making college tuition-free in New Mexico
SAN ANTONIO – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has issued the following statement in response to the signing of Senate Bill (SB) 140 (Opportunity Scholarship Act) by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, making New Mexico’s program the most expansive in the nation. SB 140 was sponsored by Sen. Liz Stefanics and Rep. Joy Garratt.
“The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities applauds Governor Michelle Lujan Grishman and the Legislature for the passage of SB 140 to offer tuition free college education for New Mexico residents,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “HACU is particularly pleased that many New Mexico residents seeking a higher education will be able to benefit from this program with tuition and fees, whether attending college full- or part-time.”
New Mexico’s Opportunity Scholarship, implemented by the Lujan Grisham administration in 2020, is the only state-funded scholarship program in the nation to include both recent high school graduates and returning adult learners; accommodate part-time students; include career training certificates, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees; and cover summer courses.
New Mexico higher education numbers include the following:
- Almost half of New Mexico undergraduates are Hispanic.
- New Mexico is home to 24 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), federally defined as educating 25% or more full-time enrollment Hispanic students.
- The state is also home to two emerging HSIs (more than 10% Hispanic FTE students).
“The legislation will allow most New Mexico students to earn their degree without the cost burden of tuition and fees, enabling them to complete college in a timely and affordable manner,” added Flores.
The General Appropriations Act directs $75 million to the scholarship program, which could support up to 35,000 students beginning this fall, or over half of all undergraduate students in New Mexico. Over 10,000 Opportunity Scholarships have already been awarded to students over the past two years through prior appropriations.
Information is available at online at https://hed.state.nm.us/free-college-for-new-mexico.
About HACU
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, D.C, Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain, and school districts throughout the U.S. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The Association’s headquarters are in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, California.
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HACU Media Contact:
Norma Jean Revilla-Garcia
Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities
210-576-3206
njgarcia@hacu.net
Christopher de Hoyos
Assistant Director of Communications and Social Media
Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities
210-576-3242
chris.dehoyos@hacu.net