Learning Curve: Advantages of applying to an in-state school are many
Having at least one in-state public school on your college list is a good idea for lots of reasons, including affordability and the wide range of majors and resources that will be available to you. For those of you who haven’t applied in-state yet, you’ll be glad to hear that the process is straightforward. Once you’ve taken care of it, you will be freed up to focus on submitting financial aid paperwork, which should be completed by March 1. Keep in mind that most in-state schools have a scholarship application process that is separate from the admissions and financial aid processes.
A unique advantage of applying in-state is the New Mexico Legislative Lottery Scholarship, which will help pay for tuition for up to seven semesters of undergraduate study at a four-year school and three semesters at a two-year school. To qualify, you must be a New Mexico resident, graduate from a New Mexico public high school or accredited private high school, or have obtained a New Mexico high school equivalency credential. You must attend a New Mexico public community college or university during the first regular semester immediately following high school graduation or receipt of your equivalency credential. You are expected to complete 15 credit hours at four-year schools and 12 credit hours at two-year schools each semester. You also need to maintain at least a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5, and not take any time off except for summers throughout your entire program.
You do not need to apply for the Lottery Scholarship at most in-state schools. If you meet the criteria, the scholarship will kick in during the second semester of your freshman year and cover a percentage of your tuition, depending on the school you attend. Most schools offer a scholarship that helps with first semester tuition and each school has a different name for it. Eligibility requirements for this first semester scholarship vary from school to school as to the minimum GPA upon high school graduation. Some schools request that you fill out a simple application for this first semester scholarship. Ask about this when you turn in your admissions application.
Another route when exploring public school possibilities is to look at regional schools. They won’t be as reasonably priced as in-state schools, but they can be interesting options for some students. Colorado and New Mexico have a tuition reciprocity agreement that allows for the following schools to offer in-state tuition to a finite number of New Mexico residents who meet their criteria: Fort Lewis College, Adams State University, Colorado State University-Pueblo, and a handful of community colleges. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a regional tuition-reciprocity agreement that enables eligible students from Western states to enroll in more than 150 participating two- and four-year public institutions, and pay a lower tuition rate than out-of-state tuition. Each school has a different way of administering these scholarships.
We are happy to work with you throughout your college application process. Feel free to call our office to set up an appointment. Please note that we will be closed from Dec. 23 to Jan. 4. We wish all of you a very happy holiday season!
Goldberg and Montoya-Dye are Bridges Project co-directors/college counselors.
