Opportunity Scholarship

While enrollment of first-year college students dropped nationwide this year, New Mexico’s numbers are actually on the rise. The state Higher Education Department announced Wednesday that nearly 10% more freshmen are taking classes this fall than last.

Enrollments are up at New Mexico’s higher education institutions, with an increase of more than 4% that’s second only to New Hampshire. And even though the higher education budget this year was more than $1 billion, the Higher Education Department Wednesday asked the Legislative Finance Committee for more.

Despite some limitations, the expanded Opportunity Scholarship is among the nation's most generous - if not the most generous - programs to support college tuition for a broad range of students.

State lawmakers kicked off the 2021 New Mexico legislative session Tuesday, Jan. 19. KUNM’s Nash Jones spoke with James Barron, education reporter with…