But critics argue they create too many hurdles for students to succeed, especially those who are low-income and struggling to work, pay rent and raise a family. Supporters of those restrictions say they incentivize students to finish their degree and narrow the number of students who participate, reducing costs. Many states – including New Mexico – have for years offered free tuition programs for four-year degrees to residents, but the programs had restrictions, limiting participation to recent high school graduates and requiring that they attend school full-time. “Even though if we missed it whenever we were younger there’s still hope for us.” “I didn’t think a whole lot of opportunities were really out there for me at my age,” said Rodriguez, 37, of Lovington, who left college at 19 in part because she couldn’t afford rent. She’s reapplying to the nursing program and hopes to finish her degree without racking up debt that could hurt her husband and three children. New Mexico is expanding its “Opportunity Scholarship,” which has already paid for Rodriguez’s tuition and allowed her to apply for federal grants toward living expenses like gas and groceries. SANTA FE – Even after failing a test that set her back a semester, Maribel Rodriguez will return to nursing school this fall with a generous new state scholarship that abandons eligibility criteria to help more working adults get a college degree. The program was funded mostly with one-time federal aid, leaving supporters concerned about how long the state can sustain it. Davis Martinez stands to benefit from a 85 million program to make college free for state residents if he attends the University of New Mexico. High school senior Cruz Davis-Martinez speaks with fellow students at the New Mexico School for the Arts in March in Santa Fe.
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