The governor’s comments reference rankings released at the end of 2025 that placed New Mexico 20th nationally for higher education, a substantial improvement from the state’s position six years earlier.
By Levi Gwaltney for Las Cruces Digest
Sources: New Mexico Higher Education Department, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (via Facebook)
Cover Photo Courtesy New Mexico State University
As the final months of her administration approach, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is highlighting higher education as one of the state’s most significant areas of progress.
“New Mexico’s kids deserve world-class opportunities — and they’re getting them,” the governor said in a recent statement. “In 2019, New Mexico ranked 40th in the nation for higher education. Today we’re 20th — and climbing. We’re proud to be paving the way for New Mexico’s next generation.”
The governor’s comments reference rankings released at the end of 2025 that placed New Mexico 20th nationally for higher education, a substantial improvement from the state’s position six years earlier. State officials attribute the gains largely to continued investment in tuition-free college programs, including the Opportunity Scholarship and Lottery Scholarship.
According to the New Mexico Higher Education Department, nearly 114,000 students were enrolled in public colleges and universities statewide during the fall 2025 semester, representing a 3.6 percent increase from the previous year and continuing a four-year trend of enrollment growth. Since 2021, statewide enrollment has increased by 13.6 percent.
State officials also report that more than 42,000 students received assistance through the Opportunity Scholarship during the 2024-25 academic year, while nearly 16,000 benefited from the Lottery Scholarship. Since the Opportunity Scholarship was launched, more than 22,000 New Mexicans have completed certificates, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees and other undergraduate credentials with support from the program.
The Higher Education Department says New Mexico now ranks among a small group of states that have recorded enrollment gains since 2020, a period when many colleges and universities nationwide experienced declining student populations.
In addition to traditional college enrollment, state officials highlighted growth in workforce training and adult education programs. Integrated Education and Training programs, which combine workforce preparation with academic instruction, saw enrollment increase by nearly 50 percent in a single year. The state also expanded support for high school equivalency testing and loan repayment programs designed to retain teachers and health professionals in New Mexico communities.
The gains come as policymakers continue to debate the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of tuition-free college initiatives. Supporters argue the programs have expanded access and reduced financial barriers for students, while critics question whether enrollment and completion gains justify the growing cost to taxpayers.
With approximately a year and a half remaining in her administration, Lujan Grisham appears poised to make higher education investment a central part of her legacy argument. Whether New Mexico continues its climb in national rankings may ultimately help determine how those investments are judged in the years ahead.
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