<p>Here is the current merit and need based aid program one state has put in place for all the graduates of their high schools.</p>
<p>Merit Aid:
qualifications include a minimum HS curriculum and the following:</p>
<p>100% tuition paid for
3.5 HS GPA and a 25 ACT</p>
<p>75% tuition paid for
3.0 GPA and a 21 ACT</p>
<p>50% tuition paid for
2.5 GPA and 19 ACT</p>
<p>In addition there is a need based award for the above categories based on the FAFSA for those students who need help with room and board.</p>
<p>100% of unmet need met for
3.5 HS GPA and a 25 ACT</p>
<p>25% unmet need met for
3.0 GPA and a 21 ACT</p>
<p>25% unmet need met for
2.5 GPA and a 19 ACT</p>
<p>This program is good at the State University (there is only one) or Community College. For OOS there is also a scholarship program bringing the cost down to in-state cost for high achieving students. Solid scoring OOS state students attend for about $3,000 a year in tuition. </p>
<p>Imagine if all states had this program how affordable college could be. Of course this state has had over a billion dollar surplus each of the last few years</p>
<p>They'll run through that surplus pretty quick if they're really going to pay for every kid's college who has a 3.5 and a 25 ACT. All 4 years? Really?</p>
<p>^ If I'm not mistaken, Wyoming produces only about 6,000 HS graduates annually, and according to the U.S. Dept of Education its production of high school graduates is expected to decline 16% by 2016. Wyoming is also sitting on a gusher of revenue from coal and natural gas production. Since these are exhaustible resources, it seem eminently sensible as a matter of social and economic policy to convert severance tax revenues into renewable human capital by investing in education.</p>
<p>I'm a little troubled by the need-based part of the formula, however. Offering only 25% of need to students below 3.5 GPA and 25 ACT seems a recipe designed to exclude large numbers of them from college. Arguably it's more sensible for the state to invest in high-achieving kids, but I'm not sure what happens to the lower achievers if they can't afford to go to college. </p>
<p>The OOS part of the formula is something we're seeing increasingly at a lot of state universities. Michigan State, for example, provides extremely generous merit-based aid to OOS students qualifying for its honors college. The University of Minnesota has capped OOS tuition at $2,000 above in-state tuition and in addition provides merit-based aid to high achievers. </p>
<p>In Wyoming's case it will be interesting to see how many of those high-achieving OOS students elect to stay in Wyoming. For that matter, it will be interesting to see how many of the in-state high achievers remain after graduation, and how many use the aid as a cheap ticket out of state.</p>
<p>They don't mind, Miami. They like the influx of young people who also, by the way, contribute to the local economy when they chose to go to college in Wyoming.</p>
<p>it doesn't cost a dime to Wyo taxpayers. Program was funded by taxes on coal and natural gas companies. Money is now invested and program is now funded by the interest and dividends on investment.</p>
<p>Plus it is good at Community Colleges so many students can pick up a trade as well with this money.</p>
<p>Residents of New Mexico have these options:
Lottery Success Scholarship- Must have graduated from a New Mexico public high school, an accredited private high school recognized by the Public Education Department, or have obtained a New Mexico GED;
- Must be enrolled full-time at an eligible New Mexico public college or university, in the first regular semester immediately following high school graduation; and
- Must obtain and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA.) Scholarship starts second semester and is good for 8 semesters.</p>
<p>NMSU NMSU:Financial</a> Aid
Opportunity Scholarship
New Entering Freshmen (enrolling directly out of high school),
Varying one-semester award for entering freshmen.
Requirements: 21 ACT (970-1000 SAT) OR a 3.0 High School GPA
NMSU regents scholarship Award: Tuition and fees
Requirements: 23 ACT composite score (1050-1080 SAT) AND 3.5 High School GPA OR 3.75 High School GPA
Renewable: 3.0 GPA and 12 graded credits hours earned each semester. Scholarship award is for a maximum of eight semesters or until graduation, whichever comes first.
Crimson Academic Scholarship
Award: Tuition and fees plus $250/semester
Requirements: 26 ACT composite score (1170-1190 SAT) OR 24 ACT composite score (1090-1120 SAT) AND 3.75 High School GPA
Renewable: 3.25 NMSU GPA and completion of 12 graded credit hours the first semester. Thereafter, renewable based on a 3.5 cumulative GPA and completion of 12 graded credits per semester. Scholarship award is for a maximum of eight semesters or until graduation, whichever comes first.
Crimson Honors Scholarship
Award: Tuition and Fees and $500 per semester.
Scholarship award is for a maximum of eight semesters or until graduation, whichever comes first.
Requirements: ACT composite of 26 or 3.75 High School GPA and an ACT composite of 24.
Renewable: 3.25 GPA after the first semester at NMSU, thereafter 3.5 cumulative GPA (completion of at least 12 credit hours each semester).</p>
<p>UNM <a href="http://www.unm.edu/%7Eschol/apps/freshapp.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.unm.edu/~schol/apps/freshapp.pdf</a>
UNM Scholars Program Approximately $4,872 per year (tuition & fees)
Cumulative sixth semester 3.3 minimum grade point average
ACT composite score of 24 or higher (or SAT of 1090)
PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM Approximately $6,300 per year (tuition, fees, stipend)
Cumulative sixth semester 3.75 minimum grade point average
ACT composite score of 25 or higher (or SAT of 1140)
Leadership experience with outstanding extracurricular record
Statement of philosophy and purpose
NATIONAL SCHOLARS SCHOLARSHIP Approximately $12,915 per year
♦Scholarship is automatically offered to New Mexico semi-finalists in the National Merit, National Hispanic and National Achievement Scholarship Programs
Regents Scholars Scholarship Approximately $12,915 per year
The Regents Scholars Scholarship Program provides tuition and fees, room and board, and books to fifteen to twenty freshman students who meet specific criteria:
Valedictorian or;
ACT composite score of 31 or higher (or SAT equivalent 1360) or;
A cumulative sixth (6th) semester grade point average of 3.9 or higher and;
A statement of goals and philosophy
Two letters of recommendation </p>
<p>New Mexico Tech Scholarship</a> Programs for Entering Freshmen
Gold National Merit Finalist Certificate and High School GPA of 3.5 $6,000/year<br>
Silver National Merit Semi Finalist Certificate or High School GPA of 3.5 and ACT 30 - or SAT 1320 $5,000/year<br>
Presidential High School GPA of 3.25 and ACT 27 - or SAT 1200 $4,000/year
Copper High School GPA of 3.0 and ACT - 23 - or SAT 1050 $2,000/year<br>
Bronze NM first time students with High School GPA of 3.0 and ACT 21 or SAT 970 $1,000/year</p>
<p>These are freshman awards and can be renewed. See websites for other scholarships including OOS scholarships.</p>